D.C. residents face competing priorities as historic preservation bill awaits congressional review | The Wash

On December 3, 2024, a D.C. Policy Center report was cited by The Wash: A study published by the D.C. Policy Center analyzed the changes in median income in the Washington region from 1980 to 2017. The study found that, “between 2000 and 2017, the most notable change in the maps is that,…

DC Public Schools sees highest enrollment ever ahead of 2024 EdFEST | Fox5

On November 26, 2024, Education Policy Initiative Director Chelsea Coffin was quoted by Fox 5: Chelsea Coffin is the director of the education policy initiative at the D.C. Policy Center, a nonprofit think tank. She agreed that the enrollment increase is great news for the both the school district and the city…

What a Trump victory could mean for Greater Washington’s economy | Washington Business Journal

On November 6, 2024, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by the Washington Business Journal: “Republican legislators have complained about certain actions in D.C.,” including speed cameras, the granting of voting rights in local elections for noncitizens and returning citizens, said Yesim Sayin, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, which studies…

Food Deserts Affect Health in Wards 7 and 8; Efforts Increase Food Security in Communities | The Washington Informer

On November 1, 2024, a D.C. Policy Center report was referenced by The Washington Informer: According to the D.C. Policy Center, an area is considered a food desert when the walking distance to a grocery store is over 0.5 miles, over 40% of the household has no vehicle, and the median household income…

What the Trump win might mean for federal workers in D.C. | WAMU

On November 6, 2024, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by WAMU: Though Yesim Sayin, executive director of nonprofit D.C. Policy Center, says the federal workforces’ economic importance has “greatly diminished” – in part because of remote work (In D.C., federal buildings use only about 12% of their office space on average). “It’s not…

D.C.’s Certificate of Need (CON) Process Could See Improvement with Proposed Legislation | The National Law Review

On October 29, 2024, a D.C. Policy Center testimony was cited by The National Law Review: In addition, the time and expense of complying with the CON requirements is enough of a barrier to potentially send independent physician practices across the border into Maryland and Virginia.[2] Read More: D.C.’s Certificate of Need (CON)…

Some of the most sweltering DC neighborhoods lack bus shelters. Cooler spots have them | Greater Greater Washington

On October 3, 2024, a D.C. Policy Center report was cited by Greater Greater Washington: According to the DC Policy Center, the Northeast and Southeast quadrants of DC are not only the hottest, but are home to people most sensitive to high temperatures, because of age, underlying conditions, lack of health insurance,…

“Fighting for our lives”: Environmental justice in the nation’s capital | The Georgetown Voice

On October 12, 2024, a D.C. Policy Center report was cited in the Georgetown Voice: A D.C. Policy Center report found that northeast and southeast D.C. have the highest levels of environmental pollution in the District, in part due to the disproportionate presence of highly polluting businesses located near these neighborhoods.  Read More: “Fighting for our lives”:…

Smile, you’re on camera: A deep dive on automated traffic enforcement data | Greater Greater Washington

On October 15, 2024, a D.C. Policy Center report was cited by Greater Greater Washington: Both the DC Policy Center and the DC Fiscal Policy Institute have papers on how ATE, an ostensibly “neutral” technology, can be applied in ways that create inequality. Read More: Smile, you’re on camera: A deep dive on automated traffic enforcement data Additional…

DC weekly roundup: A startup grows in the DMV (and Philly); Scaling considerations; $100M cyber infusion | Technical.ly

On October 1, 2024, a D.C. Policy Center report was cited by Technical.ly: DC’s entrepreneurial landscape is bustling, but signs suggest it’s starting to weaken, according to an annual report by the DC Policy Center. For instance, there have been higher closure rates and slow growth in new business applications. Read More: DC weekly…

Rustin Lewis: Tackling chronic absenteeism requires collective action | The DC Line

On September 16, 2024, the D.C. Policy Center was cited by The DC Line: According to the D.C. Policy Center’s most recent “State of D.C. Schools” annual report, 44% of students were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, with absenteeism rates still significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels, which stood at 29% during…

DC councilmember proposes solution to empty downtown office buildings costing the city millions | WUSA9

On September 24, 2024, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by WUSA9: “[These] office buildings are like nuclear waste buried in the land, you have to pay to get rid of them,” Yesim Sayin, from the DC Policy Center, said. Sayin didn’t sugarcoat her thoughts on Downtown’s current state. “People used to…

IRS study shows a post-pandemic exodus of wealthy residents from D.C. | Washington Times

On August 8, 2024, Director of the Rivlin Initiative Daniel Burge was quoted in the Washington Times: Daniel Burge, the economic policy director for the D.C. Policy Center, said better jobs and schools, more housing options and lower taxes contributed to the exodus. Mr. Burge also pointed out that wealthier households generally…

Mapping DC’s heat exposure, sensitivity | DC News Now

On Thursday August 1, 2024, Director of Policy and Research Emilia Calma was quoted by DC News Now: “If you can actually see in all the maps there’s a really stark line where Rock Creek Park ends,” said Emilia Calma, with the DC Policy Center. Calma authored the report, “Chart of the…

D.C. heat island effect among worst in U.S. | Axios

On July 17, 2024, the D.C. Policy Center was cited by Axios:  The city’s heat exposure is significantly higher east of Rock Creek Park, according to the D.C. Policy Center. Read More: D.C. heat island effect among worst in U.S.Additional reading: Chart of the week: D.C.’s heat exposure index shows the impact of severe heat…

News Bytes: Mansion Tax, GU President Suffers Stroke | The Georgetowner

On July 17, 2024, a D.C. Policy Center article was cited in The Georgetowner: The D.C. Policy Center wrote: “The so-called ‘mansion tax’ would separate class 1 properties into classes 1a and 1b. Properties assessed above $2.5 million would be deemed class 1b and would be subject to a $1.00 tax per…

Heat islands don’t only happen in DC. Here are the neighborhoods in Fairfax County that are hotter than the surrounding areas | WTOP

On July 17, 2024, the D.C. Policy Center was cited by WTOP: The highest heat exposure scores, according to a D.C. Policy Center analysis last year, are in Wards 1, 5 and 6. Read More: Heat islands don’t only happen in DC. Here are the neighborhoods in Fairfax County that are hotter than…

D.C. names interim state education superintendent | Washington Post

On June 20, 2024, the D.C. Policy Center was cited by the Washington Post: Roughly 18 out of every 100 ninth graders will earn a college degree within six years of their high school graduation, according to an estimate from the D.C. Policy Center, a local think tank. Read More: D.C. names interim state education…

DC Council hears public opinions on bills to combat student absenteeism | WJLA

On Wednesday June 26, 2024, the D.C. Policy Center was cited by WJLA: According to the D.C. Policy Center, in the 2022-2023 school year, more than 40 percent of students in D.C. were chronically absent. Read More: DC Council hears public opinions on bills to combat student absenteeismAdditional reading: State of D.C. Schools, 2022-23:…

Map: Neighborhoods most affected by D.C.’s “mansion tax” | Axios

On June 17, 2024, the D.C. Policy Center was cited by Axios: Revenue from the new tax, which got final approval from the D.C. Council last week, will essentially “be driven by a small subset of neighborhoods, primarily in the Northwest,” the D.C. Policy Center wrote. The increase will give the District $5.7…

Navigating dinner in a food desert: Ward 8 residents fighting food insecurity | WUSA9

On June 13, 2024, the D.C. Policy Center was cited by WUSA9: According to the DC Policy Center, Ward 8 is classified as a food desert due to several factors: the distance to supermarkets, limited car availability, and low household income levels. Read More: Navigating dinner in a food desert: Ward 8 residents fighting…

DC Passes mansion Tax With 2025 Budget | Urban Turf

On June13, 2024, A D.C. Policy Center article was cited by Urban Turf: The DC Policy Center recently put out a chart looking at the neighborhoods that have the highest volume of homes affected by the new tax. “Georgetown is home to the most properties assessed above $2.5 million, at 515 properties, or 20…

Mapping DC’s Proposed Mansion Tax | Urban Turf

On May 31, 2024, a D.C. Policy Center Chart of the Week was cited by Urban Turf: The DC Policy Center has mapped the DC neighborhoods that would most be affected by a proposed “mansion tax” for the city.  On Friday, the DC Policy Center put out a chart looking at the neighborhoods that…

DC Council chairman proposes more tax hikes to counteract Bowser’s cuts to early education | Washington Examiner

On May 29, 2024, A D.C. Policy Center report was cited by the Washington Examiner: As Bowser and Mendelson seek to raise revenue for the city through tax increases, a report published by the D.C. Policy Center found that the district lost approximately $40 million in revenue from fare evasion during fiscal 2019. Read…

Not just downtown: DC needs more rapid transit between neighborhoods | Greater Greater Washington

On May 30, 2024, a D.C. Policy Center report was cited by Greater Greater Washington:  At the same time, the rise of teleworking, decentralized employment, and suburb-to-suburb commuting all reduce the need for transit infrastructure to focus so heavily on the downtown core. Read More: Not just downtown: DC needs more rapid transit between neighborhoodsAdditional…

In year of budget cuts, Mayor Muriel Bowser bets big on downtown D.C. | The Washington Post

On May 2, 2024, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted in the Washington Post: Sayin said the focus made sense — and so did the budget cuts in her view, describing D.C.’s fiscal outlook as “very scary” without significant change. Putting the city’s limited eggs in the downtown basket, she said, was…

1,700 affordable housing units to be added along Wisconsin Avenue | The Eagle

On May 3, 2024, a D.C. Policy Center report was cited by The Eagle: Ward 3 was a location largely for white-only housing from 1933 to 1968, according to the D.C. Policy Center. Read More: 1,700 affordable housing units to be added along Wisconsin Avenue Additional reading: Mapping segregation in D.C.

Biden-Harris Administration Unveils Ambitious Plans to Strengthen Teaching Profession Ahead of Teacher Appreciation Week | The Washington Informer

On May 2, 2024, the D.C. Policy Center was cited by The Washington Informer: A recent study by the D.C. Policy Center found that while the District pays principals and teachers higher-than-average salaries, the ratio between principal and teacher pay is lower than the national average in surrounding states, including Maryland, Virginia,…

D.C. wants more kids to finish college. Here’s what it would take. | The Washington Post

On May 5, 2024, the D.C. Policy Center was cited by the Washington Post: There are other reasons to celebrate: More D.C. students are finishing high school and, after years of decline, the most recent data shows that the share of students enrolling in college saw a modest improvement in 2022. But the city…

I Hate the News | The I Hate Politics Podcast

On April 30, 2024, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was interviewed on the I Hate Politics Podcast. The conversation centered on the proposed fiscal year 2025 budget, the challenges faced by the Council and the OCFO, and long term concerns for the District’s finances. Listen here: I Hate the News April 30, 2024 Read…

AU’s Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities lab works to fight food insecurity | The Eagle

On April 17, 2024, the D.C. Policy Center was cited by The Eagle: In 2017, the D.C. Policy Center found that food deserts — geographic areas where people have limited access to healthy food — make up about 11 percent of D.C.’s total area and are concentrated in the neighborhoods of Anacostia, Barry Farms,…

Dramatic decline in DC’s violent crime despite rise in youth carjacking arrests | WJLA

On April 16, 2024, the D.C. Policy Center was cited by WJLA: According to the D.C. Policy Center, city police average an annual of more than 2,000 juvenile arrests under the age of 18. Read More: Dramatic decline in DC’s violent crime despite rise in youth carjacking arrests Additional reading: D.C. Voices: Juvenile…

Government report finds just 12% of federal offices occupied in D.C. | Washington Times

On April 11, 2024, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by the Washington Times: “In the past, the presence of federal workers boosted the District’s economy and made the city recession-proof,” Yesim Sayin, executive director of the nonpartisan D.C. Policy Center, told The Times. “These numbers show that the presence of the…

D.C. businesses expect to be worse off financially in 6 months than region and nation, survey shows | Washington Times

On April 9, 2024, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted in the Washington Times: “Businesses no longer consider D.C. a safe haven protected from inflation by the federal government,” Yesim Sayin, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, told The Washington Times. “This is a big change, because in the past the…

Analysis: D.C. Mayor Bowser proposes program cuts and tax increases in 2025 budget | WAMU

On April 4, 2024, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was interviewed on WAMU’s All Things Considered: Yesim Sayin is the Executive Director of the D.C. Policy Center, and told WAMU that D.C. is not out of the woods yet. “We are not projecting a revenue growth that’s greater than 2 percent over the next…

New York, Illinois, And California Lawmakers Propose Higher Taxes | Forbes

On March 31, 2024, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted in Forbes: Yesim Sayin, head of the D.C. Policy Center and another member of the Tax Revision Commission, echoed Williams’ point, noting that when looking at the businesses, firms, and other employers who would be hit by the proposed tax hike, “their relocation decisions…

DC Population Growth Outpaces Surrounding Inner Suburbs | Commercial Observer

On March 26, 2024, a D.C. Policy Center Chart of the Week was cited by the Commercial Observer: After a brief period of COVID-induced flight, more people have been moving into Washington, D.C., than out of it, even as the surrounding inner suburbs have lost population, according to an analysis of recent census data…

D.C. population growth outpaces Beltway suburbs | Axios

On March 25, 2024, D.C. Policy Center research was cited in Axios: Read More: D.C. population growth outpaces Beltway suburbs Additional reading: Chart of the Week: D.C.’s population growth outpaced the region’s inner counties between 2022 and 2023, but some of the region’s suburbs and exurbs grew even faster. 

The shrinking federal government — in D.C. | Marketplace

On March 15, 2024, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by Marketplace: “A lot of people have moved out of the region because it’s high cost — expensive — realizing that they can work for the federal government and not necessarily be in the region,” explained Yesim Sayin, head of the D.C. Policy…

As downtown D.C. seeks rebound, empty offices, fear of crime cast shadow | Washington Post

On March 15, 2024, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted in the Washington Post: Overall, downtown’s retail vacancy rate is 22 percent, a bit more than double what it was in 2019, the year before the pandemic, according to the DowntownDC BID. As for office space, the downtown vacancy…

I Hate the News | The I Hate Politics Podcast

On March 12, 2024, Education Policy Institute Director Chelsea Coffin discussed State of D.C. Schools 2022-23 on the I Hate Politics podcast: “The areas where D.C. has returned to pre-pandemic levels are in things like educator retention, which was lower than national levels pre-pandemic, and suspensions, which again D.C. was somewhat of…

Report finds 60% of D.C. high school students ‘chronically absent’ last year | The Washington Times

A March 8, 2024, article in The Washington Times cited the Education Policy Initiative’s 2022-23 State of D.C. Schools report: In its annual report released Friday with city officials, the D.C. Policy Center found that even as many city teenagers missed at least 10% of the academic year, the high school graduation rate rose…

DC schools face fiscal cliff after putting staff over students | Washington Examiner

On March 8, 2024, a D.C. Policy Center report was cited by the Washington Examiner: According to the D.C. Policy Center, Washington public schools are going to see a 13% decline in funding just after losing COVID stimulus funds. Schools used these funds to hire more employees even as enrollment fell. On average, elementary schools and…

DC’s high-impact tutoring programs are also improving school attendance | WTOP

On March 8, 2024, the D.C. Policy Center was cited by WTOP: A D.C. Policy Center report found many sessions feature three or fewer students. Read More: DC’s high-impact tutoring programs are also improving school attendance Additional reading: Landscape of high-impact tutoring in D.C.’s public schools, 2021-22

As D.C. leaders brace for ‘tight’ budget, council chair broaches tax hike | Washington Post

On March 7, 2024, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted in the Washington Post: Yesim Sayin, the executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, who is also a member of the Tax Revision Commission, said that one area of disagreement among commissioners was a proposed business activity tax —…

Money woes for DC’s public schools system | The D.C. Line

On February 20, 2024, The Fiscal Future of Public Education in the District of Columbia was cited in The D.C. Line: Bowser and Ferebee may have chosen to understate the fiscal hurt coming hard and soon to public schools. However, the D.C. Policy Center provided a klieg light with a report —…

DC Policy Center identifies alarming trends in student attendance | Fox 5 DC

On March 6th, 2024, Chelsea Coffin, Director of the Education Policy Initiative, was quoted in a Fox 5 DC segment: According to the D.C. Policy Center, 44% of students were considered chronically absent.  “It’s highest for students who are economically disadvantaged and in a similar category to students who are at risk in…

D.C. schools have a stubbornly high absenteeism problem | Axios

On March 7, 2024, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted in Axios: “There’s a whole new perception among parents that missing school is OK. That they can make it up,” said Yesim Sayin, the head of the D.C. Policy Center, which convened a group of 55 students, parents, and teachers to study…

Baltimore speed cameras aren’t nabbing neighbors, new study says | The Baltimore Banner

On March 5, 2024, a D.C. Policy Center report was referenced in a Baltimore Banner article: In 2018, a D.C. Policy Center analysis found that drivers moving through predominantly Black areas of Washington, D.C., were 17 times more likely to receive a moving violation than drivers moving through predominantly white areas. “These disparities indicate…

Hey there’s a boundary study happening–how is it affecting YOUR community? | PoPville

The D.C. Policy Center was mentioned in an article on PoPville: DME has contracted with a team led by Perkins Eastman including WXY Studio, The D.C. Policy Center, and LINK Strategic Partners to support both studies. Read More: Hey there’s a boundary study happening–how is it affecting YOUR community? Additional reading: The role of…

Downtown DC Confronts a Grim Prospect: A Return to the Dismal 1980s | Politico

On March 1, 2024, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted in Politico: It’s not just government workers. Yesim Sayin, who pores through local data from her perch as executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, cited one particularly gobsmacking stat when we spoke this week: “Prior to the pandemic,…

DC Juveniles committed crimes double the national average, report says | WUSA9

On February 27, 2024, a D.C. Voices article on juvenile justice was cited in a segment on WUSA9: The DC policy center says- juveniles in DC have committed crimes at a rate- double the national average. Read More: DC Juveniles committed crimes double the national average, report says Additional reading: D.C. Voices: Juvenile Justice

DC At-Large Councilmember introduces ‘youth crime prevention’ measures | WUSA9

On February 27, 2024, a D.C. Voices article on juvenile justice was referenced by WUSA9: According to the DC Policy Center, juveniles commit crimes in D.C. at nearly double the national rate. Read More: DC At-Large Councilmember introduces ‘youth crime prevention’ measures Additional reading: D.C. Voices: Juvenile Justice

Empowerment or Misstep? D.C.’s Cash Assistance Program Stirs Debate | BNN

The D.C. Policy Center was cited in a BNN article on February 23, 2024: The D.C. Policy Center discusses the surge in budget for District of Columbia Public Schools and public charter schools in Washington D.C., propelled by federal grants such as the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER). This analysis…

Per-student funding increasing, but staff cuts possible under proposed DC schools budget | WTOP

On February 19, 2024, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by WTOP: Yesim Sayin, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, said when the extra funding ends, school budgets are projected to “experience a loss of about 15%.” Many of the city’s public charter schools used the funding to hire staff, Sayin…

For DC professionals, hybrid doesn’t mean housebound | WTOP

On February 19, 2024, the D.C. Policy Center was cited in a WTOP article on remote work: According to the D.C. Policy Center, 51% of jobs in the D.C. metro can be performed remotely or with a hybrid arrangement, compared to 37% nationally. Read More: For DC professionals, hybrid doesn’t mean housebound Additional…

Investment in Youth Violence Prevention Programs in the District of Columbia | ArentFox Schiff

On February 16, 2024, a D.C. Voices article was cited by ArentFox Schiff: According to the DC Policy Center, between 2016 and 2022, MPD officers arrested an average of 2,235 juveniles each year, involving youth under the age of 18. Read More: Investment in Youth Violence Prevention Programs in the District of Columbia |…

DCPS Budget Raises Questions About Staffing, Pandemic-Era Programming | Washington Informer

A February 14, 2024, article in the Washington Informer highlighted the Education Policy Initiative’s report on the impending fiscal cliff for D.C. schools: As outlined in a D.C. Policy Center study titled “The fiscal future of public education in the District of Columbia,” ESSER funded DCPS’ summer programming, teacher training, support for English language…

D.C. schools budget could send more to campuses but cut staff as costs rise | Washington Post

On February 13, 2024, an Education Policy Initiative report on the potential fiscal cliff for D.C. schools was featured in a Washington Post article: Ferebee’s budget proposal was unveiled on the same day that D.C. Policy Center released a report illustrating just how heavily schools across the city have relied in recent years on…

Washington, DC, readies tax abatement program for commercial-to-residential conversions | Smart Cities Dive

On February 12, 2024, a D.C. Policy Center chart of the week was cited by Smart Cities Dive: A separate analysis from the D.C. Policy Center shows that Washington, D.C., which collects over $1.1 billion in tax revenue from office buildings, stands to lose millions of dollars in commercial tax revenue from those properties if…

D.C. Councilmember Robert White Jr. Discusses Spike In Youth Crime With Community Members | The Hilltop

On February 5, 2023, a D.C. Policy Center report was cited by The Hilltop: Between 2016 and 2022, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers averaged annual arrests of 2,235 juveniles under the age of 18, as reported by the D.C. Policy Center. The juvenile arrest rate in the nation’s capital is nearly double the…

D.C. Says Its Commercial Properties Lost Another $1.5B In Value, But ‘This Is Certainly Not The Bottom’ | Bisnow

On February 5, 2024, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by Bisnow: “The picture for commercial property is very disconcerting,” D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin told Bisnow in an email. “This is certainly not the bottom.”  “Things have deteriorated since [2021],” Sayin wrote. “There has been an uptick in sales of…

Howard basketball wants to help the youth of Washington D.C., here’s the plan | HBCU Sports

On February 2, 2024, a D.C. Voices article was cited by HBCU Sports: According to a report from the D.C. Policy Center, a non-partisan think tank, between 2016 and 2022, the Metropolitan Police Department averaged 2,235 arrests per year under the age of 18. This arrest rate is nearly twice that of across…

Study shows equitable access is opening doors for at-risk DC students | WUSA9

On February 2, 2024, the Education Policy Initiative’s report on Equitable Access in D.C. public schools was featured in a WUSA9 segment: A new report by D.C. policy center, a non-partisan think tank, analyzed 25 schools out of 200 in the lottery system that prioritized applications from at-risk students or kids who are experiencing…

Top D.C. Public Schools Increase At-Risk Student Enrollment After Policy Change | DCist

On January 31, 2024, an Education Policy Initiative report on Equitable Access in D.C. schools was the subject of a DCist article: The new report supports earlier research by the D.C. Policy Center, which has shown that while the Equitable Access option may only do so much to increase diversity across the…

Capitals’ and Wizards’ Likely Move to Virginia Forces DC Real Estate to Reassess | Commercial Observer

On January 25, 2024, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by Commercial Observer: “[It] is disquieting news for a downtown that’s already ailing,” said Yesim Sayin, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center. “It’s hard to tell what direct impacts this could have on the Gallery Place/Chinatown neighborhood in the years to…

‘Shocking’ Plunge In Office Values Reveals Depth Of D.C.’s Looming Economic Crisis | Bisnow

On January 24, 2024, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by Bisnow: “Everyone stands to lose,” D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin said. “Tax revenue pays for government support and services that all D.C. residents need or use. So that is a very, very disconcerting, very nerve-wracking picture for me.” Read more: ‘Shocking’…

Greenest of them all: Senior Ekua Hudson tackles food insecurity in the District | The Eagle

On January 19, 2024, a D.C. Policy Center publication on food access in D.C. was cited by The Eagle: Food deserts — urban areas where residents have little to no access to affordable or good-quality fresh foods — make up 11 percent of D.C., of which 82 percent is concentrated in Wards…

There’s A Growing Push To Develop Social Housing In D.C. What Is It? | DCist

On January 17, 2024, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by DCist: “Just getting to affordable housing is hard. Getting to affordable housing plus 28 other things on my wish list is even harder,” says Sayin, referring to the additional climate and labor goals attached to Lewis George’s social housing proposal.  Read…

7News looks at DC program achieving success when it comes to school attendance | WJLA

On January 9, 2024, a D.C. Policy Center publication on chronic absenteeism in D.C. Public Schools was cited by WJLA: The DC Policy Center called chronic absenteeism one of the greatest challenges for DC Public Schools (DCPS). The latest numbers released from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education show chronic…

The nation’s capital is struggling more than any state in the country to recover pandemic job losses | Business Insider

On December 24, 2023, Director of the Rivlin Initiative for Economic Policy and Competitiveness Daniel Burge was quoted by Business Insider: “Fewer commuters means less people buying goods or services at DC shops, restaurants, and businesses,” said Daniel Burge, an economic policy expert at the DC Policy Center. Read more: The nation’s…

7 News asks DC and school leaders what they are doing to address chronic absenteeism | WJLA

On December 20, WJLA quoted D.C. Policy Center’s testimony on chronic absenteeism: The DC Policy Center calls chronic absenteeism one of the greatest challenges for DCPS. The center reports the majority of high school students are chronically absent 60% of the time due in part to perceptions of education and relaxed graduation…

Caps, Wizards departure may spell trouble for DC’s Downtown revitalization efforts | Fox 5

On December 19, 2023, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was interviewed by Fox 5: Executive Director Yesim Sayin says less foot traffic could mean a rise in crime in an area where violence is already a concern. “Fewer events at the arena means fewer people coming to these restaurants and that means jobs…

Millions of dollars at stake if Wizards, Capitals move, DC think-tank says | WTOP

On December 18, 2023, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by WTOP: D.C. has multiple advantages compared to other jurisdictions, she said, including one level of government that’s in charge of things such as schools, police and firefighters. That enables the city to “have a holistic approach to policy because we can…

Weekend Roundup: A Commanding Presence | Washington City Paper

On December 18th, 2023, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was cited by the Washington City Paper: The economic impact of the teams’ departure is huge. But, even if the deal is approved, they will continue playing at Capital One Arena at least through 2027. “This gives the city time enough to reimagine and reengineer Downtown,”…

Greater Washington on track for lowest office sales volume since 2009 | Washington Business Journal

On December 15, 2023, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted in the Washington Business Journal. A D.C. Policy Center study released earlier this month estimates estimates D.C. could lose up to $102 million in tax revenue if available space isn’t leased, helping to buoy values. “It will take some time for the chips to…

‘It Ain’t Over’: D.C. Officials Hold Out Hope They Can Keep Wizards, Capitals In The City | WAMU

On December 13th, 2023, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by WAMU: It was Capital One Arena — formerly known as the MCI Center and then Verizon Center — that revitalized the Chinatown neighborhood and contributed to the general improvement of the city’s economy when it opened downtown in 1997, according to…

The Caps and Wizards Are Moving to Virginia | Washingtonian

On December 13, 2023, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by the Washingtonian: Now, with many of downtown’s offices still empty after the pandemic and widespread worries about crime, the departure of the teams could have the opposite effect: “If the teams moved out, we are probably looking at a 30- or…

Downtown D.C. faces bleak future if Wizards, Capitals depart for Northern Virginia | Washington Business Journal

On December 12, 2023, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by the Washington Business Journal. “I’m shocked,” said Yesim Sayin, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, which studies D.C.’s finances and economy. “This is something we would not be able to undo for a very long time. If the teams moved…

New Council Legislation Aims for Universal Out-of-School Time Program | Washington Informer

On December 6, 2023, Director of Research and Policy Emilia Calma was quoted in the Washington Informer: As Emilia Calma, director of policy and research at D.C. Policy Center, explained on Monday, Dec. 4, students experience the widest access gaps in high school and during the summer. She said that issues of…

‘Everybody stands to lose’: What empty office space in DC means for the city’s revenue | WTOP

On December 5, 2023, an analysis by Nick Dodds, with comments from Executive Director Yesim Sayin, was cited by WTOP: If offices in downtown D.C. remain empty and current leasing trends continue, the city could lose millions from commercial property tax revenue, according to a new analysis from the D.C. Policy Center. Demand…

Two in five D.C. students were chronically absent last year, data show | Washington Post

On November 30, 2023, Education Policy Initiative Director Chelsea Coffin’s presentation to the “Every Day Counts!” was cited by the Washington Post: In dozens of interviews conducted by the D.C. Policy Center think tank, students, parents and teachers cited the need for time off for illnesses and mental health days amid rising…

D.C. teachers are leaving their classrooms. Here’s why | Washington Post

On December 1, 2023, Education Policy Initiative Director Chelsea Coffin was cited by the Wasington Post: The patterns follow a brief drop-off in turnover during the first two years of the pandemic, when teacher retention across D.C. got as high as 81 percent. Chelsea Coffin, director of the Education Policy Initiative at…

Capital One Arena Forever Changed Chinatown. Can It Reverse Downtown’s Post-Pandemic Slump? | DCist.com

On November 30, 2023, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was cited by DCist. The neighborhoods around the arena are particularly impacted by federal workers being slow to return to offices, says Yesim Sayin, Executive Director of the D.C. Policy Center, due to the presence of federal agencies like the FBI and the U.S. Government…

How Some Landlords Skirt D.C.’s Rent Control Law | Washington City Paper

On November 22, 2023, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted the Washington City Paper: There are more than 73,000 rent-controlled units in D.C., according to a 2020 report by the DC Policy Center, which only looked at buildings with five or more units. “The universe of small, rent-controlled buildings is one that…

Families face challenges trying to move away from gun violence | NBC4

On November 15, 2023, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was interviewed by NBC4: “It’s cheaper to build these units in-less resourced parts of town. So, these units come out in probably neighborhoods with the highest poverty rates, and that creates more economic segregation for the city and for the families,” said Sayin. Read…

New Program Intended to Expand College Access | Washington Informer

On November 8, 2023, an article by Julie Rubin was cited by the Washington Informer: In its March 2023 report, D.C. Policy Center criticized OSSE’s collection of post graduation data, saying that more information about who’s completing their postsecondary education and where could help improve college and career outcomes.  According to the report,…

Amid chronic absenteeism from pandemic, fewer DC students repeating 9th grade | WTOP

On October 30, 2023, an article by Chelsea Coffin and Hannah Mason was cited by WTOP: Since the pandemic, data from the superintendent’s office shows that fewer D.C. public school students have been repeating the ninth grade. Taken at face value, that may sound like a good thing. However, a D.C.-based think…

Policy Brief: How the District of Columbia Can Create Universal Out-of-School Time Opportunities for Youth | DC Action

On October 26, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center report Needs assessment of out-of-school time programs in the District of Columbia was cited in a DC Action policy brief on out of school time programs: Disinvestment linked to structural racism, as shown by data from the DC Policy Center’s 2023 OST needs assessment of OST,…

D.C. releases ‘highest ever’ school enrollment figures | Washington Post

On October 26th, 2023 Education Policy Initiative report State of D.C. Schools, 2021-2022 was cited in the Washington Post: Before the public health crisis, schools had been growing by an average of about 1,600 students annually, according to the D.C. Policy Center, a local think tank. The city added 2,120 students to its schools…

Truancy Still an Issue in D.C., Community Members and Experts Say | Washington Informer

On October 25, 2023, Director of the Education Policy Initiative Chelsea Coffin was cited in the Washington Informer: During an Every Day Counts! Task Force meeting in September, Chelsea Coffin of the DC Policy Center revealed that school attendance during the 2022-2023 academic year hadn’t reached pre-pandemic levels, even with a 12 percentage point…

Why D.C. Residents Are In Prisons Across the U.S. | City Cast DC

Emilia Calma, D.C. Policy Center’s Director of Research and Policy is interviewed by City Cast DC on D.C. residents in BOP custody.

How D.C.’s Parole System Could Change | City Cast DC

D.C. Policy Center’s Emilia Calma is featured on a City Cast DC episode about D.C.’s parole system and how it could change.

Power 100 2023: Advocates & Game Changers | Washington Business Journal

On October 11, 2023, D.C. Policy Center’s Executive Director Yesim Sayin was named one of the Power 100 in the D.C. region by the Washington Business Journal. “It’s like Alaska losing oil overnight.” That’s how Yesim Sayin, the executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, has described the devastating impact remote and…

Office to residence conversions | Evidence Matters

On October 10, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin was cited in a HUD publication, Evidence Matters: “That’s the big idea,” says DC Policy Center’s Yesim Sayin. “You have one type of use in a building, offices, that is in low demand, and another kind of use, housing, that…

D.C. on track to meet its housing goals, but some advocates say they aren’t seeing benefits yet | The Wash

On October 10, 2023, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin was cited by The Wash: That’s because regions like these are easier to build upon, said Yesim Sayin, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, a nonprofit research center. “The zoning is more permissive than, say Wards 3 or 6, with…

New Knowledge | City Observatory

On October 6, 2023, City Observatory’s weekly newsletter published a commentary on a recent D.C. Policy Center report: The DC Policy Center has an interesting new report charting key population changes in Washington.  In contrast to the simple (and largely wrong) “doom loop” narratives, about cities, this study shows that dense, amenity-rich…

D.C. school boundary study sparks debate, worry from parents | Washington Post

On September 30, 2023, our Education Policy Initiative’s s recent publication on school boundaries was cited by the Washington Post. Almost three-quarters of students in D.C. do not attend their neighborhood public school — though in-boundary enrollment is higher in wealthier areas — opting instead to apply through the common lottery to…

The Government Shutdown Will Be as Painful as Biden Wants it to Be | National Review

On September 29, The D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin was cited by the National Review: “For all practical purposes for D.C., the federal government has been shut down since March 9, 2020” the D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin said recently as the prospect of government shutdown loomed even…

Metro’s Financial Crisis Demands Leadership from D.C. But the Prospect of New Taxes is Making Politicians Skittish | Washington City Paper

On September 29, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s Executive Director, Yesim Sayin, was cited by the Washington City Paper: “I was shocked by how little Metro can do to solve this problem,” says Yesim Sayin, the head of the D.C. Policy Center and a former official in the CFO’s office, after reading through WMATA’s…

What Shutdown? Downtown D.C. Is Already a Ghost Town | POLITICO

On September 29, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s Executive Director, Yesim Sayin, was cited by Politico: “For all practical purposes for D.C., the federal government has been shut down since March 9, 2020,” said Yesim Sayin, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, a leading District-focused think tank. Read More: What Shutdown? Downtown…

D.C. raises revenue estimate in the short-term, but shutdown and commercial real estate cloud the future | Washington Business Journal

On September 29, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin was cited by the Washington Business Journal: “Commercial property has always been the District’s workhorse … and these are the kinds of buildings that are increasingly under duress,” Yesim Sayin, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, said at the…

DC Greens Brings Fresh Produce to East of The River | The Washington Informer

On September 6, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s work on food security in D.C. was cited by the Washington Informer The D.C. Policy Center conducted a series of reports on food insecurity issues across the District, citing that over 75% of food deserts amassed in Wards 7 and 8 alone, making up…

Pandemic-era migration cost D.C. more than $1 billion | Axios D.C.

On August 30, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s chart of the week, What does the IRS migration data tell us about outmigration from D.C.?, was cited by Axios D.C.: Yes, but: The District has made up its losses thanks to the growing incomes of those staying put. “Between 2020 and 2021, non-migrant resident…

Families prepare for federal demand to return to in-person work | Washington Examiner

On August 24, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Remote work and the future of D.C. (Part 2): What does remote work mean for the District of Columbia’s tax base?, was cited by the Washington Examiner: A 2022 study by the D.C. Policy Center found that 137 of 733 large office buildings…

Human Rights Watch’s Opposition to AB 645 – Letter to California Senate Appropriations Committee | HRW

On August 7, 2023 the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Predominately black neighborhoods in D.C. bear the brunt of automated traffic enforcement, was cited by Human Rights Watch: As such, implementation of AB 645 risks the same results as those found in Chicago, where between 2015 and 2019, speed cameras ticketed households in…

D.C. region’s federal workforce is shrinking again. Here’s why it’s a concern. | Washington Business Journal

That lines up with findings the D.C. Policy Center put out this year that remote work is hollowing out D.C.’s urban center as jobs shift to the cheaper Maryland and Virginia suburbs. Workers are holding on to schedules where they work in-office only part of the week, saving them thousands of dollars in commuting and other costs. And economic development wins, such as those promised by Amazon.com Inc. in Arlington, are losing some of their punch as fewer workers and companies move to be near them, said Yesim Sayin, executive director of the center.

Where the most U.S. residents bake because of concrete and lack of trees | Washington Post

Forty-one million residents among all nine cities experience the temperature boost, some up to 10 degrees or more, exposing them to higher risks of heat-related illness and more expensive cooling costs, the study found. Climate Central’s analysis did not include demographic data, Brady said, but other organizations such as the D.C. Policy Center have conducted research showing that lower-income communities face disproportionate impact from the heat island effect, partly because their neighborhoods often lack trees.

‘A pile of assumptions’: How a long-delayed database project affected decision-making on rent caps | The DC Line

On June 26, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Appraising the District’s rentals, was cited by The DC Line: This form of rent stabilization in DC dates to passage of the Rental Housing Act of 1985, which limited rent increases for most apartments built before 1976.  But there’s no firm number available on…

Advocating for a Better Data Ecosystem | Jobs for the Future

On April 26, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s work was cited by Jobs for the Future: Defining the why. CityWorks DC partnered with the D.C. Policy Center to publish their first brief, The Case for Creating a Local Talent Pipeline in the District of Columbia. The brief shifts the narrative away from anecdote and…

The Futility of School Reform | The American Thinker

Tales of out-of-control schools regularly surface.  A report from the D.C. Policy Center tells how the Washington D.C.’s often violent public school system has been boosting graduation rates while measured student academic achievement fell. Horror stories from majority Black school systems in cities like Baltimore tell of illiterates graduating in the top of their class.  Nearly everyone knows why Whites flee schools as Black enrollment increases. Ironically, when professional educators finally confront these educational dystopias, everything adheres to the Black victimization narrative — yes, Blacks are routinely disproportionately punished, but this punishment just reflects society’s inherent racism.

Lawsuit exposes horrific conditions in Washington D.C. jail | WSWS.org

On May 24, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, The District of Columbia’s Criminal Justice System under the Revitalization Act, was cited by WSWS: According to the DC Policy Center, at least 60 percent of the facility’s 1,400 male and female detainees “are awaiting trial, or in other words, have not yet…

DC Schools Are Still Enforcing COVID Protocols, Keeping Kids Out Of Class As Grades Plummet | Daily Caller

Of third through eighth graders, 31% of students met English grade level expectations in the 2021-2022 school year, a decline from 37% during the 2018-2019 school year, according to the D.C. Policy Center

Public school enrollment in Maryland not back to pre-pandemic levels | DC News Now

A just-released report by the D.C. Policy Center says that while enrollment has rebounded post-pandemic, there has been an uptick in students dealing with mental health issues.

How programs for adult learners are contributing to a rise in school enrollment in DC | ABC 7

On May 8, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s chart of the week, D.C.’s enrollment is up in school year 2022-23, with uneven growth by grade band, was cited by ABC 7: An analysis by the D.C. Policy Center shows the 2022-2023 school year enrollment climbed nearly 3% at D.C. Public Charter and Pre-k…

D.C. school enrollment boom helped by rise in adult learners | Washington Post

On May 6, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s chart of the week, D.C.’s enrollment is up in school year 2022-23, with uneven growth by grade band, was cited by the Washington Post: Most of those students entered prekindergarten, elementary, middle and high school classrooms. But a sizable chunk — more than one-third…

Organizers Demand Racial Equity in Tax Policy Recommendations | The Washington Informer

On April 26, 2023, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin was mentioned by the Washington Informer: In total, there are 11 members, 10 of which are appointed by the mayor and D.C. Council. Other commissioners include David Catania, former D.C. council member and current managing director of Georgetown Public Affairs, Rashad…

As Council Committee Embraces SROs, a Grassroots Organization Touts Different Approach to Gun Violence | The Washington Informer

On April 25, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s publication, D.C. students are exposed to more community violence, was cited by The Washington Informer: According to D.C. Policy Center, nearly 80% of District residents lived within half a mile of a homicide — more than likely in places where children live — in 2021. A study conducted…

This Bill Could Help D.C. Turn Vacant Homes Into Grocery Stores | DCist

On April 25, 2023, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by DCist: The bill echoes a proposal floated by Bowser in her budget support act that would allow the D.C. government to buy land underneath rental or owner-occupied housing, entering into a ground lease with the owner with the intent to secure its long-term…

D.C. public schools increased graduation rates despite plummeting test scores, report reveals | The Lion

On April 25, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, State of D.C. Schools 2021-22, was cited by The Lion: A new report reveals that Washington D.C.’s public schools have increased their graduation rates despite marked declines in both reading and math. The D.C. Policy Center report, which compared recent data with pre-pandemic statistics,…

Progressives Fear Business Interests Have Dominated a Key Tax Policy Group Guiding Future Budgets | Washington City Paper

On April 18, 2023, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin was mentioned by Washington City Paper: It’s probably no great surprise to see this kind of talk among commission members considering its composition; Bowser got to appoint five members, and she picked Catania, McLean, Williams, attorney James Hudson, and Carolyn Rudd, a past board…

Mayor Bowser Made a Wrong Turn on Traffic Safety. A Real Task Force Can Get DC Moving in the Right Direction. | Fines & Fees Justice Center

Enforcement-heavy safety strategies, coupled with flat fine systems, also have a particularly devastating impact on lower-income and working-class communities, as well as communities of color. A 2018 DC Policy Center report stated that predominantly Black neighborhoods in the District bore the brunt of automated traffic enforcement.

D.C. school lottery sees uptick in applications, high school interest | Washington Post

It is still early — the number of students who end up attending each of D.C.’s schools will fluctuate until at least October — but interest in the lottery this year could signal that enrollment next year will be on par with this year’s figures, said Chelsea Coffin, director of the Education Policy Initiative at the D.C. Policy Center, a think tank.

DC’s Coolidge High School to allow students to take college classes with new program | WJLA

For every 100 ninth-graders in D.C., 37 students will graduate high school but not enroll in postsecondary school. Only eight out of 100 will graduate college within six years of leaving high school, D.C. Policy Center reported.

Festival season over | Axios DC

D.C. Policy Center executive director Yesim Sayin Taylor says she thinks of D.C.’s rent control laws as more like rent stabilization that prevents price gouging.

How to find rent-controlled units in D.C. | Axios DC

On April 6, 2023, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by Axios DC: D.C. Policy Center executive director Yesim Sayin Taylor says she thinks of D.C.’s rent control laws as more like rent stabilization that prevents price gouging. State of play: There was an attempt by the D.C. Council during…

Bowser Budget Proposal Calls For Repurposing Camera Ticket Money, New Task Force To Look At Equity In Fines | DCist

He cited a 2019 study from the D.C. Policy Center that shows the cameras are distributed in neighborhoods that have more people of color and lower incomes. He also said D.C. fines more money per capita than any other city.

New On-Campus Exhibit Showcases a Century of Eastern’s History | Washington Informer

During the 2021-2022 school year, Eastern High School had 766 students, the majority of whom were Black. Among all of the District public school feeder patterns, the one leading to Eastern most closely represents the District’s racial demographics, according to a report the D.C. Policy Center released earlier this year. 

The Closure of Walmart is Blow for an Entire Community. Former Employee Says H Street Store Was A Site of Community ConnectionThe Closure of Walmart is Blow for an Entire Community | HillRag

Recent research by the DC Policy Center shows that there is a specific geography to food access in DC. So-called “food deserts” are neighborhoods that lack ready access to a full-service grocery store.

The Walmart on H Street NW was just blocks from one such residential area. It’s a neighborhood with multiple public and low-income housing buildings with thousands of residents who call the area home.

Bowser Offers Bigger Tax Breaks For Office-To-Housing Conversions In Downtown, But Critics Question Value | DCist

On April 5, 2023, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by DCist: For Yesim Sayin Taylor, the director of the D.C. Policy Center, some type of government incentives — whether tax breaks, grants, or some other public offerings — will be needed to speed up the process of converting downtown…

D.C.’s Test Scores and Absenteeism Rates Are Getting Worse, so Why Are More Students Graduating? | Reason Magazine

The high school graduation rate in Washington, D.C., is climbing. However, student school performance seems to be falling dramatically. While more and more seniors graduate high school, test scores are down and absenteeism is up.

Bowser Proposes Slashing Emergency Rental Assistance, Housing Production Funds Amid Grim Economic Forecast | DCist

When the money starts drying up, you have to ask the hard questions. Do I want housing? Do I want [rental assistance]? Do I want money for schools? I mean, they’re competing, and that’s the big change,” says Yesim Sayin Taylor, executive director of local think tank D.C. Policy Center. “This is a city that has been planning for growth since 2005 or so. And in the pandemic years we didn’t have to think about it because money rained from the skies.” 

Program Allows Black Male Students to Speak Candidly with Elders | Washington Informer

The American Counseling Association estimates that 40% of Black male teenagers suffer from persistent sadness and feelings of hopelessness, with nearly one out of four seriously considering suicide. On the education front, the D.C. Policy Center found two years ago that 14 percent of high school graduates who enter college could expect to obtain their degree within six years. 

Republicans link DC education system to rising juvenile crime rates | Washington Examiner

Washington schools reported a sharp decline in school attendance for the 2021-22 school year, with nearly half of students missing at least 10% of the entire school year, according to the D.C. Policy Center. Roughly 42% of students were labeled as “truant.” 

If test scores and attendance are down, how are more students earning high school diplomas? | KQED

On March 27, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, State of D.C. Schools 2021-22, was cited by KQED: A troubling post-pandemic pattern is emerging across the nation’s schools: Test scores and attendance are down, yet more students are earning high school diplomas. A new report from Washington, D.C., suggests bleak futures for…

Too few D.C. students finish college. This program aims to change that. | Washington Post

But amid the applause and happy tears, officials acknowledged more must be done — to not only send more children to college but also make sure they graduate. A recent report from the D.C. Policy Center, a local think tank, found that for every 100 ninth-graders in D.C., just eight will graduate college within six years of leaving high school.

PROOF POINTS: One city hits a high school graduation record but few ninth graders are predicted to end up with a college degree | The Hechinger Report

The numbers are stark in a March 2023 report by the D.C. Policy Center, a nonpartisan research organization. Almost half the students in the district – 48 percent – were absent for 10 percent or more of the 2021-22 school year. Seven years of academic progress were erased in math:  only 19 percent of third through eighth graders met grade-level expectations in the subject in 2021-22, down from 31 percent before the pandemic. 

Special-Needs Families Tackle School Placement, Out-of-School Time Quandaries | The Washington Informer

The report said that students with disabilities experienced high levels of absenteeism. They also had the lowest learning outcomes during the 2021-2022 school year, as seen in their scores on the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career, also known as PARCC. Researchers attributed that, in part, to staffing vacancies that prevented students from receiving speech and language services and, in some cases, relegated them to a general education classroom without support.

D.C. Kicks Off Once-A-Decade Process To Redraw School Boundaries | DCist

The report found that current attendance patterns in most cases do not reflect the city’s overall racial diversity, and that some schools are significantly overcrowded while others have trouble filling their seats. Still, the possible changes to boundaries are only likely to impact a relatively small number of schools and kids.

1 big thing: 🍎 The state of our schools | Axios

On March 15, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, State of D.C. Schools 21-22, was cited by Axios: D.C. public school students still haven’t fully recovered from the pandemic despite returning to the classroom. Driving the news: A report out today from the D.C. Policy Center says students are still struggling with the residual impacts of…

Charting D.C. schools’ road to recovery, from enrollment to retention | Washington Post

On March 15, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, State of D.C. Schools 21-22, was cited by the Washington Post: In the year that D.C. schools fully reopened after being forced to shutter campuses because of the pandemic, math and reading proficiency plummeted, more high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless, and…

District Links: New council bill aims to boost teacher retention

On March 15, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, State of D.C. Schools 2021-22, was cited by The DC Line: A report out today delves into the many changes for DC schools since the start of the pandemic. Meanwhile, nine members of the DC Council are introducing a bill that seeks to…

Enrollment Season Compels Conversation About Educational Equity | The Washington Informer

On February 21, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, The role of school boundaries in the District of Columbia, was cited by The Washington Informer: In January, the D.C. Policy Center released a report showing that most District students — nearly three out of four — opt to leave their neighborhood to attend either…

DC’s school boundary review could advance equity, advocates say | Greater Greater Washington

“Within the Jackson-Reed feeder pattern, families tend to have the resources to either choose where they live and therefore choose their by-right school or choose to attend a private school,” said Chelsea Coffin, the Director of the Education Policy Initiative at DC Policy Center and one of the report’s authors.

Should the Bureaucrats Get Back to Their Desks? | Washington Post

It’s hit the economy of the capital hard — there are some 280,000 federal workers in the region, about 141,000 in Washington itself. The city’s tax revenue is down, stores are closed, and subway ridership is low. “It’s like a three-year hurricane in the city,” says Yesim Sayin, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, a nonpartisan think tank.

D.C. Mayor to Biden: Your Teleworking Employees Are Killing My City | Politico

“People kind of want to live in places that give them the opportunity at reasonable prices,” says Yesim Sayim, who runs a local think-tank called the D.C. Policy Center. “They don’t particularly care about the flag that adorns the sky.” Washington always worked well for people, a place that may not have offered the startup-economy upsides of Manhattan or Silicon Valley, but also didn’t come with the risks of an employer going out of business. “But now, if you have a chair and a computer, the world is your oyster. And the presence of a job in D.C. is not necessarily a reason for someone to move to D.C.”

If federal employees keep working from home, D.C. mayor says White House should flip ‘vast property holdings’ to residential use. How would that work? | MarketWatch

The District of Columbia’s economy is also largely dependent on commuters, given that 70% of its workers lived outside the city before the pandemic, according to a May report from the D.C. Policy Center. 

Coworking Spaces in Suburbs On the Rise | Commercial Observer

Out-migration from the District to the suburbs led to a decrease of 23,000 residents in 2021, according to D.C. Policy Center, a record high in the last two decades, so it’s not surprising that more people are working from spaces outside the city.

Downtown D.C.’s struggles mount as many workers remain remote | Washington Post

On January 27, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Remote work and the future of D.C. (Part 2), was cited by the Washington Post: Even before the pandemic, downtown Washington had an oversupply of offices that was aggravated by the emergence of telework and competition from emerging neighborhoods such as the Wharf. That dynamic…

Falling D.C. Office Valuations Making Teardowns More Feasible | Bisnow

“The more successful the conversions are, the less the conversation is about whether the floor plates are right or wrong, because if the value is in residential, then you may as well just tear down and rebuild,” DC Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin said.

A 2023 recession would still hurt Washington | Axios DC

Conventional wisdom says that Washington is recession resilient thanks to Uncle Sam. Federal spending and jobs helped us stave off the worst during the Great Recession. But relying on the federal government isn’t what it used to be, local economists who are concerned about a 2023 slowdown tell Axios. For one, federal workers staying remote means the District is “no longer as protected” from a recession as it was in the past, says Yesim Taylor, head of the D.C. Policy Center.

DC Faces Transformative Moment In Federal Hybrid Work Era | Law360

“Washington, D.C., has always been a recession-proof place before the pandemic because we have the federal government here that is countercyclical … It operates in an expanded capacity during bad times,” said Yesim Sayin, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center. “I don’t believe the federal government will be the same type of floating device in the future we had before. Federal spending may still expand, but federal spending accrues everywhere.”

Two Tickets in DC? Metro Says ‘Pleasant Surprise’ as Fare Evasion Crackdown Starts Slow | NBC 4

On January 3, 2023, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by NBC 4: Yesim Sayin, executive director of the nonprofit think tank D.C. Policy Center, told the I-Team it’s too soon to say what success looks like for the fare crackdown campaign. She noted the estimated money lost to…

The Growing Movement For Socialized Housing Could Win A Big Victory In D.C. | Bisnow

Yesim Sayin, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center and one of the only witnesses to speak against the Green New Deal For Housing during its 11-hour public hearing on Nov. 22, said she doesn’t believe there are enough market-rate renters willing to pay the rent needed to cross-subsidize the social housing developments’ cheapest units.

Food halls, ranked | Axios DC

Public school enrollment in our region has dipped since 2019, especially in suburban school districts.The declines might be caused by decreased demand for public schools during the pandemic and lower birth rates, per the D.C. Policy Center.

D.C. is a step closer to changing its school funding model | Washington Post

“Our main funding model is that money follows students,” Sayin said. If a school loses students — but not enough in a single grade to eliminate a classroom teacher, for example — DCPS would have to figure out how to provide that school with the lost per-pupil funding.

D.C. Council proposes more incentives to address office, retail vacancies | Washington Business Journal

Of 733 large buildings in D.C., about one in five are more than 25% empty and could rise to one in three if leasing activity does not increase, according to analysis of tax data from D.C. Policy Center, further stressing the city’s tax base.

‘Wave of the future’: How DC’s million-dollar investment in tutoring is helping students catch up | WTOP

It’s called high-impact tutoring — at least 90 minutes of tutoring per week, divided across a few sessions before, during or after the school day, including immediate tutor feedback. Many sessions include three or fewer students, according to a D.C. Policy Center report.

Highlighting internet disparities | Axios DC newsletter

Between the lines: Before the pandemic, 28% of D.C. households lacked access to broadband internet or a home computer, according to the D.C. Policy Center. This disparity was further highlighted by the rise in remote work and virtual learning during the pandemic.

Office Giants Call For D.C. Government To Take Risk Of Distress More Seriously | Bisnow

There are 733 large office buildings in the office-heavy parts of the District today, of which 228 are more than 25% vacant or are likely to become vacant in the next two years as tenants leave with no one to replace them, according to a data analysis by the D.C. Policy Center. Those buildings, in turn, could trade for bargain prices and potentially depress the values of similar properties.

Opinion: D.C.’s downtown is comatose. Here’s how to revive it | Washington Post

At the same time, leaders of America’s biggest cities are grasping the fact that remote and hybrid work are here to stay. A D.C. Policy Center report in May summed up the city’s challenge: “Our best estimate is that of the 401,481 workers who commuted to D.C. from elsewhere prior to the pandemic, 155,550 can do their jobs from home.” There simply won’t be as much need for office space going forward. That’s a massive problem for downtown D.C.‚ which the mayor’s office says consists of more than 90 percent commercial space and only 8 percent residential.

Bowser and Grant Celebrate Record D.C. School Enrollment | Washington Informer

On November 16, 2022, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Declining births and lower demand: Charting the future of public school enrollment in D.C., was cited by the Washington Informer: The DC Policy Center released a study earlier this year that highlighted declining pre-school and elementary school enrollment in the pre-pandemic years. This had especially…

D.C. school enrollment hits 15-year high, mayor says | Washington Post

The figure represents an increase of almost 3 percent from last school year, or about 2,600 more students, according to preliminary data from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). Before the pandemic, public school enrollment had been growing by an average of about 1,600 students every school year since the 2007-2008 academic year, according to the D.C. Policy Center, a local research group. That progress stalled during the public health crisis.

Enrollment in D.C. Public Schools Is Back Up After Dipping During The Pandemic | DCist

A July report by the D.C. Policy Center predicted enrollment in D.C.’s public schools could drop by 6,000 students — the equivalent of 16 average-sized schools — over the next five years, driven by falling birth rates and lower demand for living in the District due to the pandemic. “An enrollment decline of this magnitude would have significant implications for D.C.’s public schools.”

How Metro’s $2 fares have fared | Axios

On November 7, 2022, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by Axios: Yes, but: There are a few factors besides the price drop that could be contributing to weekend ridership’s rebound.  Historically, Metro has largely been used by commuters during the week — fewer weekend riders means a smaller pool…

Apples to hand grenades: Why transit fare evasion is an untimely distraction | Greater Greater Washington

On October 4, 2022, D.C. Policy Center analysis on Metro’s Kids Ride Free program was cited by Greater Greater Washington: Take the Kids Ride Free program, for which every District student from age 5–21 is eligible. Distribution of SmarTrip cards for Kids Ride Free is poor, estimated at 38% last year by DC…

D.C. sets ambitious goal of 20,000 new Black homeowners by 2030 | WAMU

On October 3, 2022, the D.C. Policy Center’s analysis, How the region’s racial and ethnic demographics have changed since 1970, was cited by WAMU: Just 34% of Black residents own their home, a 12 point drop from the 46% Black homeownership rate in 2005, according to a report from various housing experts convened by…

Lidl opens doors to its first DC grocery store | Fox 5

The location at 2224 Town Center Drive SE is the first new grocery store in Ward 7 in over a decade. Local leaders hope the new store will address gaps in access to food for residents in neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River. 80 percent of D.C.’s food deserts were in Ward 7 and Ward 8  in 2017, according to D.C. Policy Center. 

D.C. Sets Ambitious Goal Of 20,000 New Black Homeowners By 2030 | DCist

Just 34% of Black residents own their home, a 12 point drop from the 46% Black homeownership rate in 2005, according to a report from various housing experts convened by the mayor. Meanwhile, homeownership has increased for white residents over that same time period, hovering around 49%. D.C. has also seen a decline in Black residents over that time, falling to 49.2 percent by 2011 according to the D.C. Policy Center.

D.C. saw a wave of new businesses during Covid-19. Supporting them is key to recovery, study says. | Washington Business Journal

Seventy-six percent of establishments in D.C. are small businesses with less than 500, and they account for 49% of its employment and 43% of its annual payroll. Even businesses under 50 employees count for one in five jobs in the District. So, it’s all the more important to find ways to keep them here, especially as remote work has proven its usefulness and “can’t be legislated away,” said Yesim Sayin, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center.

WMATA’s Silver Line hopes to find success | Axios DC

D.C. Policy Center executive director Yesim Sayin Taylor tells Axios that the Washington region’s high concentration of workers who are able to do their jobs remotely has continued to make it even harder for Metro to rebound from pandemic losses. 

Washington D.C. Economic Partnership to take more active role in bringing companies downtown | Washington Business Journal

Sellars said this entity will be focused just on D.C., which has had far less success than both Maryland and Virginia in attracting companies and generating jobs thus far. Of 120 large headquarters that have moved to Greater Washington this century, just 16 have come to the District itself, according to research from D.C. Policy Center, and the city is losing 2.4 jobs for every job it adds.

What experts say needs to be done to disrupt historic patterns of segregation in DC’s schools | Greater Greater Washington

While a 2018 study found that giving at-risk students a higher priority would improve outcomes for just 8.2% of at-risk participants, a 2020 study by DC Policy Center was much more promising. They looked specifically at charter schools with long waitlists that had just 15% of at-risk students enrolled (city-wide, 45% of students are at-risk). At these schools, given the preference siblings get in the lottery, it was hard for at-risk students to snag a coveted spot.

The ripple effects of how – and if – kids are able to commute safely to school | Greater Greater Washington

Research by the DC Policy Center found that in 2021 almost 80% of people lived within half a mile of a homicide (which are on the rise in DC) occurring that year. Black residents, however, are 19 percentage points more likely than their white peers to live within that radius.

The D.C. Housing Authority Pays Top Dollar To Landlords In Wealthy Areas. Some Say That’s Bad Policy. | DCist

D.C.’s nearly 40-year-old rent control law caps annual rent increases at the rate of inflation plus 2% at larger apartment buildings constructed before 1976. Roughly one third of rental units in D.C. fall under rent control, but that number has decreased over time, according to the D.C. Policy Center.

D.C. launches grant program to expand early child care facilities | Axios DC

According to the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute, early childhood educators, who are predominantly Black and brown, earn a median annual income of approximately $31,950 — barely above minimum wage and not on par with public school teachers. The median teacher pay in D.C. is just over $81,000, says the D.C. Policy Center.

How school boundaries and feeder patterns shape DC’s housing and education inequalities | Greater Greater Washington

At-risk kids are also less likely to get into their lottery choices. A major reason is that the lottery gives preference to siblings, according to research by the D.C. Policy Center, which tends to maintain school demographics rather than disrupt them.

Navigating the wilderness, avoiding predators urban and rural | Washington Post

A report in June by the D.C. Policy Center noted that just being in proximity to repeated criminal acts can have a deleterious effect on mental and physical health. The study found that 80 percent of District residents lived within a half-mile of a homicide in 2021. However, in wealthy and predominantly White Ward 3, there were only two homicides, and no one lived within a half-mile of either killing.

D.C. Schools Face Major Substitute Teacher Shortage: Analysis | Washington Informer

On August 3, 2022, the D.C. Policy Center’s Chart of the week, Ongoing substitute teacher shortages affect schools’ ability to function, was cited by the Washington Informer: D.C. Public Schools may face a huge shortage of substitute teachers in the upcoming academic year, which could have an impact on classrooms and school…

Nationals Fans Have Lost Hope. Here’s Why They Shouldn’t | City Cast DC

Meanwhile, with three weeks to go until school starts back up, DC Public Schools is facing a serious shortage of substitute teachers. The number of subs has dropped by 50 percent in the past two years, according to a new D.C. Policy Center report. A lot teachers say they’re quitting because of low pay, lack of benefits, and COVID concerns.

DC Substitute Teachers Cite Low Pay, Lack of Benefits for ‘Mass Exodus’ | NBC 4

According to a recent analysis from local research group D.C. Policy Center, the number of substitutes on the DCPS payroll has gone down from 987 at the start of 2020 to 501 in the first quarter of 2022. It’s not known exactly how many substitutes there are going into the upcoming school year, as D.C.’s public employee salary database has yet to update with the most recent quarter’s data.

Office Conversions Are Good for Cities | The American Conservative

On July 30, 2022, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Examining office to residential conversions in the District, was cited by The American Conservative: An analysis by the D.C. Policy Center found that while a Class C office building could increase in value if converted to residential, converting it to Class A would yield…

These are the hottest neighborhoods in D.C. | City Cast DC

On July 25, 2022, a map from the D.C. Policy Center’s article, D.C.’s heat islands, was cited by City Cast DC: The last few days have been some of the most wretchedly hot ones I’ve seen in D.C. Apparently, D.C. is an urban heat island (a.k.a it’s hotter than neighboring counties, lucky us). However,…

Report shows enrollment in DC schools is down and projected to continue to decline | WJLA

A report by the DC Policy Center shows enrollment growth stalled in D.C. schools during the pandemic and if the trend continues, an enrollment that currently stands at 87,000 could decline to 81,000 by 2026.

D.C. school enrollment expected to drop after years of increases | Washington Post

Enrollment in D.C.’s traditional public and charter schools is expected to drop over the next five years, a disappointing turn for a city that had celebrated more than a decade of growth in its public schools. The current enrollment stagnation and anticipated decrease in the coming years — according to a study released Wednesday by the local research group D.C. Policy Center — was propelled by declining birthrates and adults leaving the city or pulling their children out of public schools during the pandemic.

Study reveals decline in DC school enrollment, what’s expected in coming years | WTOP

School enrollment numbers in D.C. are projected to decline, the latest shift after years of growth in its public and charter schools.

Remote work and housing costs: D.C.’s new economic development plan will consider pandemic’s impact | Washington Business Journal

Even if employees do come back a few days a week they’ll be spending less. If the estimated 155,000 who commute into D.C. from nearby came in just days a week, D.C. would lose out on $62.9 million a year in sales tax revenue, according to the analysis. Yesim Sayin, its executive director, said that puts more importance on a strategy that proves a value of in-person work.

Black-owned stores work to end D.C.’s food deserts | Washington Post

On July 7, 2022, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Food access in D.C is deeply connected to poverty and transportation, was cited by the Washington Post: Wards 7 and 8 lost four of their seven full-service grocery stores between 2010 and 2020, while the city’s other six wards gained 37 grocery stores…

Thousands of DC kids were exposed to gun violence in 2021. This group is working to stop the spread | WUSA 9

Data showing how many D.C. kids are impacted by shootings reflects just how important that support is.The DC Policy Centermapped it out. “On average, when a homicide happened in DC [in 2021], there were about 2,800 kids that were nearby,” executive director of the center, Yesim Sayin said. Sayin said in areas that see more violent crime, that number can get up into the hundreds of thousands.

What Really Happens When Dollar Stores Replace Grocers | Mashed

The Anacostia River branches off the Potomac just two miles due south of the U.S. Capitol building near the Nationals baseball stadium, running through Washington, D.C. past the National Arboretum, and into Maryland. Across the 11th Street bridge is a low-income and predominantly-Black neighborhood (per Statistical Atlas) which, on a map published by the D.C. Policy Center, is lit up with blue dots, each marking a bodega or corner store. The area contains only two full-service grocers — which, as the map shows, are abundant and accessible everywhere north and west of the river.

Urban exodus that began during pandemic shows no signs of slowing down | Washington Examiner

On June 20, 2022, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Charts of the week: A pandemic-induced exodus has broken the District’s population boom, was cited by the Washington Examiner: The availability of remote work, the persistence of pandemic-related restrictions, and the rise of crime and inflation have all contributed to a stream of…

Giant Close To Deal For 55K SF Store Where Walmart Infamously Changed Course | Bisnow

“Bowser has directed several new initiatives to address food insecurity in Wards 7 and 8, where the D.C. Policy Center estimates 82% of the city’s food deserts lie.”

Understanding why the region grapples with unequal access to TOD | Greater Greater Washington

High-income earners eventually started returning to the city, and so did the jobs, according to a DC Policy Center study. Growth in DC, according to the DC Policy Center, was driven by young people between the ages of 25-35 in the early 2000s. Areas like Fairfax, Montgomery, and Prince George’s also experienced huge spikes in population growth. And TOD sprouted up in places throughout the District as more and more people wanted to be able to walk to their destinations.

Deanwood neighborhood center with grocery store clears major hurdle | Washington Business Journal

Medici Road has been working for over a year to resurrect what is now an overgrown lot on a main neighborhood thoroughfare within the Deanwood policy focus area, which emphasizes infill development, especially with neighborhood-serving retail. Advisory Neighborhood Council 7C supported the project, noting the corridor has much under-used land, and the grocery store has been a popular demand in an area the D.C. Policy Center designates as a food desert. The grocery store and coffee shop users haven’t been made public, Jackson said.

D.C. bypasses national public school enrollment drop | Axios DC

D.C.’s high school graduation rate was on the decline for years, D.C. Policy Center’s Education Policy Initiative director Chelsea Coffin tells Axios. But it increased during the pandemic as some graduation requirements were relaxed or waived. What to watch: Coffin says the decrease in D.C. births will impact public school enrollment in the future, especially for younger students.

Nation’s capital grapples with violence, juvenile crime as DC leaders look for answers | Fox News

D.C.’s population fell by about 3%, representing a loss of more than 20,000 residents, in 2021, the D.C. Policy Center reported on March 25, citing data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Masks on Metro? | The D.C. Line

On April 20, 2022, The D.C. Policy Center’s article, D.C. Voices: D.C. schools ramped up mental health resources during the pandemic. How well do these services address student needs?, was cited by The D.C. Line: The D.C. Policy Center has a new analysis of the extra mental health resources provided by DC schools during…

Not easy being Orange | 730DC

On April 15, 2022, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Do residential properties in D.C.’s historic districts outperform the rest of the city in value appreciation?, was cited by 730DC: Appreciating historyContrary to what you might expect, homes in DC’s historic districts have actually risen less in value. Read more: Not easy being Orange…

Breakfast links: Prince George’s County receives $2.5 billion for economic growth | Greater Greater Washington

On April 14, 2022, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Do residential properties in D.C.’s historic districts outperform the rest of the city in value appreciation?, was cited by Greater Greater Washington: Residential properties in DC’s historic areas have underperformed in value appreciation compared to homes in the rest of the city, despite the properties…

Groups call on D.C. to classify more kids as at-risk for academic failure | Washington Post

The D.C. Policy Center, a local research group, crunched the numbers and determined that expanding the eligibility for at-risk funds could cost the city anywhere between $20 and $33 million each year. Analysts figured that many children who would fall under these new categories already qualify for at-risk funding because their families qualify for food stamps.

Morning newsletter: D.C. struggles to retain millennials | Axios DC

The District is no longer attracting as many of the young and well-educated adults who have fueled its recent population growth, census data shows. The migration of young people over the past two decades led to an increase in public school enrollment, new development, and more tax revenue for the District. But the number of people aged 25 to 34 moving into the city has slowed in the past four years, further declining during the pandemic, local think tank D.C. Policy Center found.

Swimming in money — but how soon will the drought come, and what’s the plan? | The DC Line

On March 24, 2022, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Chart of the week: Mayor Bowser’s FY 2023 proposed budget, was cited by The DC Line: If folks want to understand what irresponsible financial planning and management look like, they need only review the recent Chart of the Week published by the D.C. Policy…

Do you live in a DC apartment building? Take our survey and tell us about your “high-rise life” | Forest Hills Connection

The majority of DC residents rent their homes, and in 2019, when the D.C. Policy Center was collecting data for its 2020 report on rental housing in the District, 60 percent of rental units were in apartment buildings. That’s 124,641 apartment units, in 3,121 buildings. And we’d like to know more about what it’s like to live in them.

“I break things and put them back together again” | 730DC

Adults ages 25-34 left DC in record numbers during the pandemic, new data shows. This is worrisome not just because you have to make new friends now*, but because maintaining a net inflow of young adult workers can be crucial to a city’s ability to attract new business and maintain what the D.C. Policy Center calls “strong fiscal health.”

D.C.’s Moving Target: Prince George’s County is steadily absorbing movers from D.C. | Washington Business Journal

Overall, the D.C. Policy Center has found that domestic in-migration into the nation’s capital in particular had turned negative in 2019, remaining that way through the pandemic. For every resident who moved into D.C. from the nearby suburbs in recent years, two moved out, and household formation markedly slowed, according to the center.

Breakfast links: How DC’s population has changed in the COVID era | Greater Greater Washington

Educated young adults have left DC at historic levels during the pandemic and are no longer moving to the District at the rate of years past. DC also lost workers in key industries, particularly those with more remote-eligible jobs.

Anacostia Reshaped: The D.C. neighborhood is facing unprecedented change through a series of development projects inside and outside its borders | Washington Business Journal

“A walk down Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE from Good Hope Road toward Morris Road reveals cranes and a string of rising projects, adding to what has long been the area’s quirkiest landmark, an oversized chair…But even amid those plans, not nearly enough has changed. The area median income in Anacostia’s northwest portion is $35,750, sliding down to $17,159 in its eastern sections. It’s still designated a food desert, according to the D.C. Policy Center. More than half of area residents have no access to a car.”

Corporate naming raises concerns in D.C. | Axios DC

D.C. Policy Center executive director Yesim Sayin Taylor tells Axios that because the pandemic pushed workers away from downtown and out of D.C., new businesses are more important now than ever.

Bowser Calls For Eminent Domain To Bring 55K SF Grocery Store To Ward 7 | Bisnow

Approximately 82% of the city’s food deserts — areas where residents have low rates of car access, a high poverty rate and are located more than half a mile from a grocery store or supermarket—occur in Wards 7 and 8, and that trend has persisted for decades, according to research by the D.C. Policy Center.

TOPA Has Tanked D.C.’s Multifamily Sales Market | Bisnow

Yesim Sayin Taylor, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, said the city should consider how it wants TOPA to influence its affordable housing priorities. She said a shortened timeline or even waiver of the TOPA process for housing operators with a commitment to affordability should be on the table as the city moves out of the pandemic.

5 things we can achieve together with a new playbook | Washington Business Journal

Yet, according to the Brookings Metro Monitor 2021 report, Greater Washington ranks 51st among 53 large metro areas for racial inclusion, or the gap between the white population and people of color on key poverty indicators. In addition, the DC Policy Center found that even when District-born and raised youth find jobs, they are likely to be in low-paying occupations with little opportunity for economic mobility.

The American Addiction to Speeding | Slate

Some civil rights advocates oppose automated enforcement on the grounds that even race-blind cameras are used to scale up America’s traditions of revenue-driven and racist policing. In D.C., for example, researchers found that drivers in segregated Black neighborhoods received 17 times as many camera tickets per capita as their counterparts in white neighborhoods. Black Washingtonians are indeed more likely to live near high-speed arterials where drivers (including white suburbanites) go very fast, but the disparity suggests the cameras aren’t improving driver safety so much as raising money.

‘At-risk’ D.C. students to get priority in pre-K lottery | Washington Post

A 2020 study conducted by the D.C. Policy Center found that prioritizing at-risk students had the potential to improve their chance “to match at a school they have ranked and to increase socioeconomic diversity, especially at a subset of schools that serve low percentages of students who are at-risk.” The study said sibling preference preserved schools’ preexisting demographics by making it harder for students without siblings at a school to get in.

The Federal Government Is Embracing Telework. Can D.C.’s Economy Survive It? | DCist

Increasingly, it looks like office owners downtown need to start considering a range of possibilities for their buildings, according to the D.C. Policy Center. Office vacancies were already rising before the pandemic, says a recent report from the think tank, and neighborhoods with a combination of commercial and residential space proved to be more resilient during the crisis.

“The Perfect Tax”: Land Value Taxation and the Housing Crisis | Brown Political Review

An example from the D.C. Policy Center is informative: The owner of a single-family home can increase the value of the property by replacing the single-family home with a duplex or triplex while still paying the same in taxes under a system of land value taxation, reducing the average tax burden per unit. In contrast, under the standard property tax regime, this increased densification would result in a higher property tax burden due to the increased value of the property, and the landowner may decide not to undertake this improvement.

Breakfast links: Purple Line construction is affecting small businesses. A proposed grant program could help. | Greater Greater Washington

Mixed use neighborhoods with a heavy office presence have proved more resilient to the effects of the pandemic than office-heavy downtown areas, which have been seeing more vacancies.  (Bailey McConnell / DC Policy Center)

Enrollment In D.C. Public Schools Drops For Second Year In A Row | DCist

Most students who left their schools at the end of last year did not transfer to another campus within the city but moved out of the District entirely, according to city officials. It is hard to pinpoint exactly how many of those departures are because of the pandemic. Chelsea Coffin, who directs education research at the D.C. Policy Center, said birth rates in the District have declined since 2016, a possible indicator that fewer students can be expected to enroll in school.

District Links: DC reaches 200 homicides for first time since 2003; Metrobus to offer all-door boarding next year; and more | The DC Line

A new report from the D.C. Policy Center asks whether mixed-use projects represent downtown’s future. Senior research analyst Bailey McConnell notes that areas replete with mixed-use development have proved more resilient to the economic impact of the pandemic.

With infrastructure windfall possible, D.C. can avoid mistakes of the past | Washington Informer

In 1867, the federal government purchased a 375-acre site in Anacostia for the settlement of African Americans after the Civil War. In 1941, the government seized a 34-acre section of the community’s land to build Barry Farm Dwellings, a public housing development for African Americans, per a report from the D.C. Policy Center.

Metro derailment brings transit equity issues to light | StreetSense

Right now, many Black D.C. residents cannot afford to live within walking or biking distance of their workplace.  Data from the D.C. Policy Center found that those who biked to work earned an average of $60,000 a year, while workers who took the bus earned an average of $32,000, the 2017 data found.

District Links: Council hearing airs stark divisions over encampment pilot; new bill would keep DC’s mail-in ballots and drop boxes; and more | The DC Line

On November 10, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, D.C. high school alumni reflections on their early career outcomes, was cited by The DC Line: DC Council hears testimony on effectiveness of pilot program on school security [WTOP] ‘Old news? 214-unit development proposed for former Fox 5 site on Wisconsin Avenue’ [UrbanTurf]…

Oyé Palaver Hut Brings African Culture, Conflict Resolution East of the River | Washington Informer

Earlier this year, the D.C. Policy Center collected data showing that isolation and increased economic hardship during the pandemic further primed young people for socioemotional challenges. In anticipation of months of unresolved trauma spilling into the classroom, Yaa-Anna participated in workshops about trauma-informed instruction.

D.C. shouldn’t fear losing federal money as it pursues statehood, business-backed group argues | Washington Business Journal

“For most of its history, the District suffered from underinvestment that can, at least in part, be attributed to the lack of stable and proper fiscal supports from the federal government in several fields including education and infrastructure,” researchers with the D.C. Policy Center, which prepared the report alongside Statehood Research, wrote.

Is anyone safe in DC crosswalks when one dangerous driver per minute passes by? | Greater Greater Washington

Incidents like these continue to occur across DC and are prevalent in every ward. A recent study by the DC Policy Center documented these incidents across the city. It also points out that many of these incidents have not been tracked. Upwards of 30% of incidents involving a pedestrian outside a vehicle that resulted in a 911 call were not actually logged by the Metropolitan Police Department.

Gentrification Blamed for Food Insecurity in Wards 7, 8 | Washington Informer

The residents located in those areas have limited access to nutritious food, which leads to higher reliance on junk food and fast food, experts say. Additionally, food deserts are usually in low-income areas and communities of color, according to a Department of Agriculture study. Those neighborhoods also often report higher rates of obesity and diabetes, according to a study done by the D.C. Policy Center.

There’s a new push to incentivize office conversions in downtown D.C. But the idea still faces an uphill climb. | Washington Business Journal

Researchers at the D.C. Policy Center and D.C. Office of Planning have both argued in recent studies that the dearth of conversions often stems from a simple math problem: Even with declining vacancy rates, the shift to residential still may not generate high enough rents to justify the expense of making the switch. Owners of older, class B and C buildings are therefore much more likely to explore the prospect, and even then, owners in the suburbs have more incentive to convert than those in downtown D.C.

Mayor Bowser Opens Applications for $1.25 Million Inclusive Innovation Equity Impact Fund | EOM

“Over the past couple of years City leadership has propelled the District to be ranked as the #11 startup ecosystem in the world. Moreover, according to the DC Policy Center annual data through Q4 2020 shows there was a 5 percent increase in total private establishments in the District between 2019 and 2020. Now is the time to ensure that the growth of businesses in DC is equitable for all,” said Melissa Bradley

DC programs connect job seekers and employers during national hiring struggles | StreetSense

“As of June 2021, nearly half the small businesses that operated in January of 2020 were closed, and revenue was down by about 57%,” according to a D.C. Policy Center report commissioned by the D.C. Chamber of Commerce. Those closures were concentrated in “consumer-facing industries” such as leisure and hospitality, where employment remained 35% below February 2020 levels. In contrast, the report found, employment in office-based jobs was only 3% below February 2020 levels.

District Links: Robert White makes his mayoral bid official; new report delves into why DC families leave public schools; and more | The DC Line

“Parents who move their children from D.C. public schools to surrounding jurisdictions cite school quality and housing affordability as major contributing factors to leaving — but what makes a quality school varies widely by household, a new report out today by the D.C. Policy Center found. 

Why some parents leave D.C. public schools | Axios D.C.

On October 13, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Exit & voice: Perceptions of the District’s public schools among stayers and Leavers, was cited by Axios D.C.: Parents who move their children from D.C. public schools to surrounding jurisdictions cite school quality and housing affordability as major contributing factors to leaving —…

Morning links: Racine declines 2022 run | Axios D.C.

Parents who move their children from D.C. public schools to surrounding jurisdictions cite school quality and housing affordability as major contributing factors to leaving — but what makes a quality school varies widely by household, a new report out today by the D.C. Policy Center found. 

D.C.’s Extended State Of Emergency Policies Adding Hurdles To Struggling Apartment Market | Bisnow

On October 9, 2021, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor, was quoted by Bisnow: D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayim Taylor said the data shows the vast majority of eviction cases have involved nonpayment of rent.  “Landlords are not happy with the extension of eviction to all causes, they…

Breakfast links: With dual trails and cyclist rush hours, the W&OD starts to look more like a (car-free) road | Greater Greater Washington

On October 8, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Examining office to residential conversions in the District, was cited by Greater Greater Washington: A housing shortage and recent pandemic-driven changes in work patterns mean the District seems to have too much office space, and too little residential. But office to home conversions…

Less than 25 percent of office workers have returned to downtown D.C., new report says | Washington Post

On October 8, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Examining office to residential conversions in the District, was cited by the Washington Post: The D.C. Policy Center came out with its own study Thursday focused on the potential of turning office buildings downtown into residential space. It painted those conversions as an answer to…

Breakfast links: DC’s pedestrian crash data has a huge missing piece | Greater Greater Washington

On October 7, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Observed disparities between 911 calls and crash reports, was cited by Greater Greater Washington: A study by the DC Policy Center found that nearly a third of crashes involving pedestrians, cyclists, and scooter riders go unlogged in DC crash data. Police say they…

MPD crash data is incomplete, study finds | Axios DC

On October 7, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Observed disparities between 911 calls and crash reports, was cited by Axios DC: A third of crashes during a six-week period where a driver hit a cyclist or a pedestrian was not publicly reported by police, a new report by the D.C. Policy Center found….

District Links: City resumes encampment clearing in NoMa; Supreme Court rejects DC voting rights lawsuit; and more | The DC Line

On October 7, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Observed disparities between 911 calls and crash reports, was cited by The DC Line: A new analysis out today from the D.C. Policy Center finds that Metropolitan Police Department’s crash data is incomplete but nonetheless provides the basis for safety decisions by the District Department of Transportation. “While…

A new accessible medical center opens in Ward 8, DC | StreetSense

On October 6, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Pushing through complacency to fight health disparities in D.C.’s African American communities, was cited by StreetSense: Opening the medical center east of the Anacostia River was done strategically, according to Bread for the City’s press release. Access to quality healthcare has been a…

Study says nearly 1/3 of crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists go unreported in DC | WTOP

On October 6, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Observed disparities between 911 calls and crash reports, was cited by WTOP: You wouldn’t necessarily expect every single car accident to get a police report after the fact, even if an ambulance is sent out to respond to the scene as a precaution….

The Pandemic Hit Cities Hard, but Especially Washington, D.C. | Wall Street Journal

On September 27, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Births and international in-migration maintain the District’s population 15-year population growth, was cited by the Wall Street Journal: People are pushing farther out. Stafford and Loudoun counties in Virginia and Frederick County in Maryland saw the strongest area population growth rates, almost 2%, as well…

11 charter schools in DC will give admissions preference to at-risk students | WTOP

On September 18, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center Education Policy Initiative Director Chelsea Coffin was cited by WTOP: During a public hearing in July 2020, before the law was passed, Chelsea Coffin, the director of the Education Initiative of D.C. Policy Center, testified before the city council on the report the center published on…

Eleven D.C. Charter Schools To Give Admissions Preference To At-Risk Students | DCist

On September 17, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, At-risk priority in D.C.’s common lottery: Potential implications for access and diversity, was cited by DCist: In an analysis published last year, the D.C. Policy Center determined that a new at-risk preference would likely accomplish those goals. “Implementing a priority for at-risk applicants…

How The Rise Of Post-9/11 Defense Contracting Helped Reshape Local Neighborhoods | DCist

On September 10, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, How big of a deal is Amazon HQ2 for the DC Metro Region?, was cited by DCist: Economist Yesim Sayin Taylor with the D.C. Policy Center wrote in a 2018 paper that Amazon would likely be “an unimpressive flare in the region’s chronic housing crisis,”…

Friendship PCS Blow Pierce Campus Maintains Ties with Parents During In-Person Learning | Washington Informer

On September 8, 2021, D.C. Policy Center’s article, Challenges outside of school for D.C.’s students and families during the pandemic, was cited by the Washington Informer: A report published by the D.C. Policy Center in March found that District children who stayed home during the pandemic experienced social isolation, anxiety and depression. As adults…

Washington, D.C. Is Planning an Unnecessary and Harmful Wealth Tax | Citizens Against Government Waste

On August 25, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, The long view for the District’s budget: What is awaiting the District in Fiscal Year 2022 and beyond, was quoted by Citizens Against Government Waste: Both policy analysts on the right and left agree that the city has enough money and will continue…

Temperatures in D.C.’s Heat Islands, Can Register Ten to Twenty Degrees Hotter Than in Leafy Neighborhoods | Washington City Paper

On August 19, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Discriminatory housing practices in the District: A brief history by Kathryn Zickuhr, was cited by Washington City Paper: “[G]overnment regulations and recommendations at every level of government sought to keep Black and white residents separated, subsidizing construction, loans, and housing for white residents…

Goodbye, Chocolate City | Washington Post

On August 14, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, How the region’s racial and ethnic demographics have changed since 1970, was cited by the Washington Post: White people, who didn’t face labor market discrimination or the legacy of slavery, got there first. But plenty of Black people wanted houses with yards and…

Property Taxes And Pot In Col., VAT In Texas: SALT In Review | Law360

On August 13, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, What is happening to the District’s personal income tax base?, was cited by Law360: The D.C. Policy Center is among the most influential think tanks in the nation’s capital. The center conducts excellent research and analysis on a wide variety of public policy…

How rising property taxes are disproportionately impacting low-income, gentrified neighborhoods | WUSA9

On August 13, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, The rise and demise of racially restrictive covenants in Bloomingdale, was cited by WUSA9: Much of what shaped these Black neighborhoods was the result of racially restrictive covenants throughout the mid-20th century that banned Black people from buying property in White neighborhoods forcing…

Developer duo tackles mixed-use project from the ground up in Deanwood | Washington Business Journal

On August 6, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Food access in D.C is deeply connected to poverty and transportation, was cited by the Washington Business Journal: The grocery store is a necessity for her neighbors, too. The D.C. Policy Center, a research group launched years ago by the Federal City Council,…

D.C. statehood could cost more than $1 billion. City officials aren’t fazed. | Washington Post

On June 4, 2021, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Dr. Yesim Sayin Taylor, was quoted by The Washington Post: Some analysts said statehood could bring other financial opportunities as well. If the District had voting representation in Congress, lawmakers could lobby more effectively for federal grant funding available to all states, said…

This bill would create a new tool for DC to expand its dedicated affordable housing stock | Greater Greater Washington

On June 1, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center was mentioned by Greater Greater Washington: There’s no cost estimate yet for the program, but White expects cost estimates to be “very compelling.” He said they are working with the DC Policy Center to estimate how much funding the program would need and how…

He was denied an SBA grant. But the gated community nearby would qualify. | Triad Business Journal

On May 21, 2021, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Dr. Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by the Triad Business Journal: But that can cause issues, according to Yesim Taylor, head of the D.C. Policy Center, who noted that these maps are based off census tracts. Read more: He was denied an SBA…

Report: While hundreds of businesses closed their doors due to COVID, new businesses were being formed | WUSA9

On May 5, 2021, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor, was quoted by WUSA9: The D.C. Policy Center, a think-tank nonprofit, said hundreds of people like Bryan decided to open small, home-based businesses during the pandemic. In its 2020 report, it found that as hundreds of businesses were being wiped…

Voices Of Wards 7 And 8: Violence In The Community | DCist

On May 3, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Goodbye to Chocolate City, was cited by DCist: D.C. went by several names in the second half of the 20th century: Chocolate City for example, referred to the fact that D.C. was the country’s first majority Black city. While more white residents now call the…

‘D.C.’s richest residents pay lower taxes than everyone else,’ report finds | StreetSense

On April 29, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Tax practices that amplify racial inequities: Property tax treatment of owner-occupied housing, was cited by StreetSense: A 2018 report by the D.C. Policy Center stated that provisions such as the homestead deduction and property tax cap, which give large tax breaks to homeowners in gentrified…

How Cleveland Park’s historic district cost the neighborhood 42 homes in one project | Greater Greater Washington

On April 29, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, The District’s population grows for the 14th year in a row, but at a weaker rate, was cited by Greater Greater Washington: The city’s population has grown over the last two decades, and is likely to continue to do so. Even if COVID…

D.C.’s explosive growth continued over the past decade, census data shows | Washington Post

On April 26, 2021, D.C. Policy Center researcher Sunaina Kathpalia was quoted by the Washington Post: Sunaina Kathpalia, a demographics researcher at the D.C. Policy Center, said that the slowed population growth in the latter half of the decade is “not a sign of some kind of doom.” “It is part of…

How DC can reduce traffic deaths and make real progress on Vision Zero | Greater Greater Washington

On April 22, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Where it’s easiest to live car-free in D.C., was cited by Greater Greater Washington: The goals of safety and equity in transportation are aligned. Private vehicles are the most deadly form of transportation. The DC Policy Center has shown that areas where car-free living is…

How difficult will it be to make buildings in DC more energy efficient? It depends on the building. | Greater Greater Washington

On April 19, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Taking Stock of the District’s Housing Stock, was cited by Greater Greater Washington: Multifamily affordable housing units are more difficult to find, as only 31% of the available housing units in the District were “potentially” affordable to families of four, according to a 2018 report…

The Miles to the Grocery Store Got Longer This Year | Slate

On April 9, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Food access in D.C is deeply connected to poverty and transportation, was cited by Slate: Researchers define a food desert in D.C. as an area where there is no full-service grocery store within a half-mile and where 40 percent of the households don’t have a…

‘School Wasn’t Even Important’: For Many Local Students, The Pandemic Has Meant A Mountain Of Adult Responsibilities | WAMU

On March 9, 2021, D.C. Policy Center Wilkes Scholar Yanesia Norris was quoted and cited by WAMU: Students who live in Ward 7 and 8, majority-Black parts of the city with large concentrations of low-income families and high numbers of frontline workers, are at higher risk of contracting the coronavirus, according to an…

Progressive Lawmakers Are Considering Raising Taxes On The Rich. Should They? | DCist

On March 2, 2021, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Dr. Yesim Sayin Taylor, was quoted by DCist: Yesim Sayin Taylor, the director of the D.C. Policy Center, another local think tank, says she understands the desire to identify new sources of revenue for social programs, calling the issues raised by Allen “terribly…

RESIDENCE RESISTANCE: Zoning remains at the crux, while real estate firms tackle the need with new aid | Washington Business Journal

On February 26, 2021, D.C Policy Center Executive Director Dr. Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by the Washington Business Journal: The benefits of homeownership reverberate well past a domicile’s four walls. It doesn’t just produce wealth for current owners — it snowballs over time for future generations. It creates a pipeline for…

D.C.’s Mayor Mourned Covid’s Unequal Toll. Her Sister Is the Latest Victim. | New York Times

On February 25, 2021, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Dr. Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by the New York Times: Even if the disease strikes the overall population somewhat evenly, the risks of death are far less uniform, said Yesim Sayin Taylor, the executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, a research…

An amendment 4 years in the making, with massive implications for affordable housing in DC, to be voted on in March | StreetSense Media

On February 24, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, A decade of demographic change in D.C.: Which neighborhoods have changed the most?, was cited by StreetSense: Public worries about the plan’s focus and intentions stem from the negative effects of gentrification and Black and brown displacement in the city, particularly in the…

District Links: CFO Jeff DeWitt departing DC | The DC Line

On February 17, 2021, Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor’s interview with Washingtonian was cited by the DC Line: ► DC BUDGET – ‘DC has a surprise $552 million budget surplus despite Covid. What gives?’ Washingtonian’s Luke Mullins: “Though the covid pandemic has hammered the Washington region’s economy, the DC government finished its 2020 fiscal year…

Who could be D.C.’s next CFO? DeWitt’s departure sets stage for debate over city’s finances. | Washington Business Journal

On February 18, 2021, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by the Washington Business Journal: Yesim Taylor, head of the D.C. Policy Center and before that a longtime staffer in the CFO’s office, believes Mendelson’s assessment is accurate, if for no other reason than the job is an…

D.C. Faces A Startling Question: What If Office Workers Don’t Come Back? | DCist

On February 16, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, 2020 State of Business: Pivoting from Pandemic to Recovery was cited by DCist: The D.C. Policy Center, which is run by Yesim Taylor, a former staffer in the CFO’s office, summarized the risk to D.C. as follows in its 2020 State of Business Report:…

DC Has a Surprise $552 Million Budget Surplus Despite Covid. What Gives? | Washingtonian

On February 16, 2021, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by Washingtonian: Though the covid pandemic has hammered the Washington region’s economy, the DC government finished its 2020 fiscal year with a surplus of more than half a billion dollars. How is that possible? What does it say about about…

The pandemic hasn’t devastated local budgets in the D.C. area, but risks remain | Washington Business Journal

On February 4, 2021, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by the Washington Business Journal: Yesim Taylor, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center and a former staffer in the CFO’s office, observed that the typical formula for appraisers involves examining a building’s capitalization rate: essentially, the ratio…

Insulated, Not Immune | Washington Business Journal

On February 4, 2021, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by the Washington Business Journal: Yesim Taylor, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center and a former staffer in the CFO’s office, observed that the typical formula for appraisers involves examining a building’s capitalization rate: essentially, the ratio…

A potential inauguration threat showcased America’s housing crisis | Vox

On January 19, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Single-family zoning and neighborhood characteristics in the District of Columbia, was cited by Vox: Limited supply means greater competition for the housing that is available, and that competition benefits higher- and middle-income people. And local zoning regulations, which make it more difficult for…

After pandemic, inauguration was ‘make-or-break’ moment. But small businesses in D.C. fear the worst. | NBC

On January 19, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, 2020 State of Business Report: Pivoting from Pandemic to Recovery, was cited by NBC: The city has been hammered by political unrest over the last year as the pandemic closed stores and prohibited indoor dining, gutting some businesses. More than one-quarter of small…

D.C. Statehood Is More Urgent Than Ever | The Atlantic

On January 9, 2021, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Goodbye to Chocolate City, was cited by The Atlantic: Though the rapidly gentrifying District is now 46 percent Black and 46 percent white, many still see it as “Chocolate City.” Scaling back democratic protections for Black people has been a hallmark of this administration and…

As D.C. Activists Push To Expand Rent Control, A Tool To Keep Track Of It Has Been Delayed For Years | DCist

On December 21, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s policy brief, How would the “Reclaim Rent Control” proposals change the District’s rental housing landscape?, was cited by DCist: In 2011, a study by the Urban Institute found that 79,145 units across 4,818 properties in D.C. were “potentially subject to rent control.” At a recent…

D.C. Council Passes Bill Lowering Barriers To Employment For Residents With Criminal Records | DCist

On December 18, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, The impact of occupational licensing requirements in D.C., was cited by DCist: Earlier this year, the District’s protections for criminal-record-holding citizens seeking occupational licenses received a C- grade in a nationwide report on licensing barriers from the Institute for Justice. According to a 2019 D.C. Policy Center…

Spike in new business formations signals post-Covid optimism, experts say | Washington Business Journal

On December 14, 2020, D.C. Policy Center executive director Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by Washington Business Journal: Yesim Taylor, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, said the trend in new business applications is the same nationwide, with a dramatic increase in the third quarter. But the D.C., Virginia and Maryland…

LTE: Nearly one half of small businesses closed in Washington, D.C. due to COVID-19 | Washington Times

On December 2, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, How COVID-19 is affecting small businesses in D.C., was referenced in a letter-to-the-editor in the Washington Times: It is small business owners, especially, that do not have the resources or means to perpetually stay open in the midst of lockdowns. In D.C., this…

District Line Daily: Derailed | Washington City Paper

On December 1, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, New D.C. education data show how school choice plays out across wards, was cited by Washington City Paper: The cuts would come when there is a vaccine. (Dr. Moncef Slaoui, the chief scientific adviser for Operation Warp Speed, tells CNN it’s possible we reach herd immunity…

Metro’s Proposed Cuts Are A ‘Punch In The Gut’ For Workers And The Local Economy | DCist

On December 1, 2020, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor, was quoted by DCist: And while the pain will be felt across the Washington region, Yesim Sayin Taylor of the D.C. Policy Center says the District will feel it particularly acutely. D.C. has already seen its revenue depleted by hundreds…

Omnibus legislation gets hearing with sharp divide between tenant advocates and housing providers | Street Sense

On November 23, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s policy brief, How would the “Reclaim Rent Control” proposals change the District’s rental housing landscape?, was cited by Street Sense: Yesim Sayin Taylor, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, said that “there are currently 72,900 rent-controlled units in the District and if the Council enacts…

D.C. Nonprofits, Already Strained, Are Bracing For Less Bountiful Holiday Season | DCist

On November 19, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, How COVID-19 is affecting nonprofits in the D.C. area, was cited by DCist: Before the pandemic, Rebuilding Together relied largely on volunteers — more than 1,000 each year — to do basic home repairs like fixing smoke alarms and installing safety grab bars…

District Links: Another deal to return teachers to classrooms falls apart… | The DC Line

On November 18, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, At-risk application patterns in D.C.’s common lottery, was cited by The DC Line: Families of at-risk students are less likely to participate in the school lottery and submit applications prior to the deadline, a new report from the D.C. Policy Center found. Even so, author Chelsea Coffin says, there…

‘Keep the rent reasonable so I can pay it’ | DC tenants ask Council to strengthen rent control law | WUSA9

On November 9, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, How would the “Reclaim Rent Control” proposals change the District’s rental housing landscape?, was cited by WUSA9: According to the DC Policy Center, roughly 36% of the District’s rental units are rent controlled, which amounts to around 75,000 rent-controlled apartments in D.C. But laws…

A Proposal To Expand Rent Control In D.C. Gets A Contentious Hearing | DCist

On November 10, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, How would the “Reclaim Rent Control” proposals change the District’s rental housing landscape?, was cited by DCist: If the bill passes, it would immediately subject more than 13,000 housing units to rent stabilization, most in small buildings, according to a new report from the…

District Line Daily: “Reclaim Rent Control” Gets A Hearing | Washington City Paper

On November 9, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s policy brief, How would the “Reclaim Rent Control” proposals change the District’s rental housing landscape?, was cited by Washington City Paper: The D.C. Policy Center, a business-backed think tank, released a lengthy report on the bill ahead of hearing that could spook some councilmembers. The report…

District Links: DCPS cancels plans for in-person instruction for some students next week; 95 voting centers open for Election Day; and more | The DC Line

On November 3, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, COVID-era health care workforce capacity in Washington, D.C., was cited by The DC Line: A new report from the D.C. Policy Center examines the District’s COIVD-era health care workforce, including the geographic distribution of physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and other health providers in the District. In…

D.C. Food Banks and Nonprofits Face Dueling Crises During the Holidays | Washington City Paper

On November 3, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Food access in D.C is deeply connected to poverty and transportation, was cited by Washington City Paper: Food insecurity in the District long predates the pandemic. In 2019, 10.6 percent of adults and 19.3 percent of children were food insecure, and according to…

Economic aftershocks: Even after the pandemic ends, its effects will linger across the D.C. region | Washington Business Journal

On October 30, 2020, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor, was quoted by the Washington Business Journal: “We see this especially in D.C.,” said Yesim Sayin Taylor, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, a business-focused research and policy group, regarding the pandemic’s disproportionate blows to lower-paid workers. “The impacts…

Small Landlords In D.C. Worry Pandemic Will Force Them To Sell Their Property | DCist

On October 27, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Appraising the District’s rentals, was cited by DCist: Large, professionally managed apartment buildings are the most visible source of the city’s rental housing. But in the District, one third of rental stock exists in what’s called the “shadow” rental market, according to the…

D.C.’s Extended State Of Emergency Policies Adding Hurdles To Struggling Apartment Market | BisNow

On October 9, 2020, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by BisNow: D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayim Taylor said the data shows the vast majority of eviction cases have involved nonpayment of rent.  “Landlords are not happy with the extension of eviction to all causes, they…

D.C.’s speed camera revenue has dropped significantly as a result of Covid-19 | Washington Business Journal

On October 7, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s Executive Director, Yesim Sayin Taylor, was quoted by the Washington Business Journal: That most likely reflects the District’s assumptions about how long it will take for some people to return to work at their traditional offices, said Yesim Taylor, executive director at the D.C….

PPP Money Abounded—but Some Got It Faster Than Others | Wall Street Journal

On October 6, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s Executive Director, Yesim Sayin Taylor, was quoted by the Wall Street Journal: Already, the unemployment rate in Washington’s Wards 7 and 8, the areas east of the Anacostia, surged to 14.2% and 18.4% in August, respectively, compared with 9.3% and 12.5% a year earlier, according to D.C. government data. In Ward 2, which includes the city’s central business district, the August jobless rate was 4.7%, compared with 3.8% a year earlier. “I’m very concerned about businesses closing,“ said Yesim Sayin Taylor, founding executive…

A lack of commuters is crippling D.C.’s economy. So the D.C. Chamber is focusing on how to bring people back | Washington Business Journal

On October 2, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s 2020 State of Business Report: Pivoting from Pandemic to Recovery, was cited by the Washington Business Journal: While every part of the region has been touched by the crisis, the chamber’s annual “State of Business” report documented especially dire effects in D.C. driven by…

Pandemic hit less than feared in 2020, but will hurt D.C. budget next year more than originally forecast | Washington Post

On September 30, 2020, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by the Washington Post: At the more moderate D.C. Policy Center, executive director Yesim Taylor argued for across-the-board cuts that would reduce each agency’s budget by perhaps 2.5 percent, rather than tax increases. “The benefit of cutting spending…

District Links: New bleak revenue projections to force budget changes | The DC Line

On September 30, 2020, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by the DC Line: The new projections will force changes to the 2021 budget, either in the form of spending cuts or revenue increases. Although the surplus for 2020 is roughly equivalent to the newly identified revenue shortfall…

As Many Public Schools Fight to Retain Students Amid Pandemic, Washington, D.C.’s Charters Are Closer to Meeting Fall Enrollment Projections Than DCPS’s Traditional Schools | The 74 Million

On September 27, 2020, the Director of the D.C. Policy Center’s Education Policy Initiative, Chelsea Coffin, was quoted by The 74 Million: “It’s critical to find out who those students might be,“ said Chelsea Coffin, director of the Education Policy Initiative at the D.C. Policy Center, who has studied enrollment trends in the…

If D.C. expands rent control, impacted landlords could win huge tax breaks. That’s alarming lawmakers. | Washington Business Journal

On September 23, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Roughly 36 percent of D.C.’s rental housing units are rent-stabilized, was cited by the Washington Business Journal: The District hasn’t updated its rent control law in 35 years. It currently covers most apartments built before 1975 – about 75,000 units, or 36% of all units…

Advocates Make Final Push To Involve Hard-To-Count D.C. Areas In The Census | WAMU

On September 22, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, D.C. is hard to count. Here’s where officials could target efforts for the 2020 Census, was cited by WAMU: D.C. Policy Center fellow Mike Maciag says D.C. has some specific challenges. “In D.C., we have a very transient population,” Maciag says. “Members of the military,…

Giving At-Risk Kids Priority in Lottery for D.C. Charter Schools Can Help Integration and Right a Historic Wrong | The 74 Million

On September 21, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, At-risk priority in D.C.’s common lottery, was cited in The 74 Million: These measures work. As noted by the D.C. Policy Center, at-risk students tend to be excluded from schools already serving lower percentages of such children, largely because existing preferences in D.C.’s common lottery…

How has privatization of public housing fared in DC? | Greater Greater Washington

On September 4, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s publication, The history and evolution of Anacostia’s Barry Farm, was cited by Greater Greater Washington: For example, two miles from Greenleaf Gardens, the historic Barry Farms is in the 14th year since NCI redevelopment was approved. Although residents were eventually able to assert their rights and…

District Links: DC residents can’t register to vote online anymore; COVID-19 cases dip in area; and more | The DC Line

On August 19, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Paycheck Protection Program in the District: Hard-hit industries receive a smaller share of loans, was cited by The DC Line: ► REPORT – ‘Paycheck Protection Program in the District: Hard-hit industries receive a smaller share of loans.’ DC Policy Center’s Sunaina Kathpalia and Yesim Sayin Taylor: “Establishments with 20-49…

D.C.’s mayor and council agree on one thing: Local businesses need help | Washington Post

On August 21, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, How COVID-19 is affecting small businesses in D.C., was cited in an opinion piece in the Washington Post: As a local business owner who has lived and worked in the D.C. area for 35 years, I’ve seen the incredible growth of this city. Local…

DC Mayor Bowser dismisses Tucker Carlson comments: ‘People aren’t leaving DC in droves’ | The Hill

On August 20, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, The District’s population grows for the 14th year in a row, but at a weaker rate, was cited by The Hill: The most recent census numbers put D.C.’s population at 705,749 as of July 1, 2019, up 4,202 people from 2018. This equates to a growth rate of 0.6…

The Urban Trail: It’s time to use zoning, regulatory tools to create more equitable neighborhoods | Washington Business Journal

On August 20, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s work and map were cited by the Washington Business Journal: While many today are not aware of the racist roots of these policies, and would strongly oppose perpetuating racial inequity, the results are hard to argue: Our region and many others remain as segregated…

Opinion: UDC is focused on the wrong students | Forest Hills Connection

On August 12, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, State of D.C. Schools 2018-19, was cited by Forest Hills Connection: In 2018, as UDC was rolling out its four-year strategic plan, 3,359 students graduated from DC public schools and charter schools. According to the DC Policy Center, 56% of those students went on to pursue…

DC driving citations spike during the early stages of COVID-19 | Greater Greater Washington

On August 5, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Speed cameras in D.C., was cited by Greater Greater Washington: By looking at the locations where most violations occurred, it’s clear that DC drivers’ habits began changing in March. The most frequent location of moving violation citations in February through April 2019, as…

Let’s show Black lives matter in education | The DC Line

On August 5, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Student achievement is on the rise, but critical gaps persist, was cited by The DC Line: After a quarter-century of education reform in the District — including a 1995 law authorizing public charter schools as well as mayoral control of the city-run school…

D.C. debates whether low-income students should get preference in the school lottery system | Washington Post

On August 4, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, At-risk priority in D.C.’s common lottery: Potential implications for access and diversity, was cited by the Washington Post: The D.C. Policy Center, a local think tank, released a study last month examining the impact that adding an at-risk preference would have on lottery results. The…

Six big obstacles to economic recovery, from child-care shortages to displaced workers | Washington Post

On July 20, 2020, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor, was quoted in the Washington Post: Meanwhile, day-care centers are losing slots or going under. Few have enough space to serve as many children as in the past, given the need for physical distancing. Many can’t afford to reopen. “Their financial…

Map of the Week: D.C. Food Deserts | American Geographical Society

On July 16, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Food access in D.C is deeply connected to poverty and transportation, was cited by the American Geographical Society: In Washington D.C., food insecurity is no new phenomenon. D.C. is broken down into eight wards, shown on the map to the right. D.C. Policy Center…

District Links: Coronavirus cases rise in DC and region; Bowser plugs statehood on Tax Day; and more | The DC Line

On July 15, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, D.C. Voices: Sustainability of D.C. child care facilities during the pandemic, was cited by The DC Line: Amid concerns about the state of the child care sector now and in the future, the D.C. Policy Center’s Chelsea Coffin and Amanda Chu write that pandemic-related financial…

What we’re reading: D.C. Voices: Teacher retention and recruitment during the pandemic | National Council on Teacher Quality

On July 14, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, D.C. Voices: Teacher retention and recruitment during the pandemic, was featured on the blog of the National Council on Teacher Quality: The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced new challenges to retaining teachers and the traditional teacher hiring process. New analysis from Chelsea Coffin and Tanaz…

Letter: Here are some reasons for DC statehood | Chico Enterprise-Record

On July 12, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s work was cited in the Chico Enterprise-Record: If DC were a state this would lead to the Federal government being “coerced” by being part of a state. In fact, the vast majority of DC residents do not work for the federal government: according to…

Why Black activists are fighting for D.C. statehood | Mashable

On July 3, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, D.C. is hard to count. Here’s where officials could target efforts for the 2020 Census, was cited by Mashable: D.C. is “becoming more and more white… It’s pretty hard to see race as a factor in the denial [of statehood]. I think it’s…

Timeline of COVID-19 policies, cases, and deaths in your state | Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

In summer 2020, the D.C. Policy Center article A timeline of the D.C. region’s COVID-19 pandemic was cited by the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. Read more: Timeline of COVID-19 policies, cases, and deaths in your state | Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center Related: A timeline of the D.C. region’s COVID-19 pandemic…

Let’s Talk About Urban Heat Island Effect | Casey Trees

On June 22, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, D.C.’s heat islands, was cited by Casey Trees: In 2017 the D.C. Policy Center published a report that added more detail to how heat affects Washington residents. It overlaid temperature with social, economic and health-related factors, as well as vegetation variability, to yield what is…

What happened to Chocolate City? Gentrification. | Washington Post

On June 19, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Goodbye to Chocolate City, was cited in an opinion piece at the Washington Post:  In 1970, our city was more than 70 percent African American, but what became of Chocolate City? In 2015, the city dropped to below 50 percent African American. It is conservatively estimated that…

Op-Ed: Transportation and the Police: Reconsidering Traffic Enforcement | Eno Center for Transportation

On June 11, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Predominately black neighborhoods in D.C. bear the brunt of automated traffic enforcement, was cited in an op-ed at the Eno Center for Transportation: While Washington, D.C. relies heavily on automated traffic enforcement cameras, a report by the DC Policy Center found that drivers in predominantly…

District Links: Schools chancellor defends cops in schools; Bowser lands late-night TV gigs; Norton bill labels mayor as ‘governor’; and more | The DC Line

On June 11, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, ARTICLE, was cited by The DC Line: A new publication from the D.C. Policy Center explores how school facilities and operations will need to adapt for DC schools to reopen. Authors Tanaz Meghjani and Chelsea Coffin posed a key question to several school leaders: “What is top of mind for you in…

We Don’t Need Cops to Enforce Traffic Laws | Vice

On June 11, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Predominately black neighborhoods in D.C. bear the brunt of automated traffic enforcement, was cited by Vice: Speed and red light cameras are a proven, functional technology that make roads safer by slowing drivers down. They’re widely used in other countries and can also enforce parking…

Here’s What Black Lives Matter D.C. Is Calling For, And Where The City Stands | NPR

On June 9, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Implementing the NEAR Act to reduce violence in D.C., was cited by NPR: Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie thinks there’s a middle ground. “I want community policing in my neighborhood, but I do not and do not condone over-policing in any neighborhood, particularly…

D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Lewis Ferebee Talks COVID-19 Recovery Plans, With an Eye Toward Returning to In-Person Instruction | The 74 Million

On June 7, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, D.C. Voices: Mental health supports during school closures, was cited by The 74 Million: And that’s just one part of the equation. As with many districts nationwide, DCPS is still determining the best way to “creatively assess” students as the new academic year…

From the White House to the Lincoln Memorial, Thousands March for Black Lives | Courthouse News Service

On June 7 , 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, What is the impact of fare evasion in D.C.?, was cited by Courthouse News Service: According to the D.C. Policy Center, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority expanded funding for fare enforcement in recent years though the D.C. council only recently decriminalized fare evasion….

D.C. Schools Avoided the Draconian Budget Cuts Many U.S. Districts Are Facing: How the City Did It — and What Advocates Say Still Needs to Be Done | The 74 Million

On May 27, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s Education Policy Initiative Director Chelsea Coffin was cited by The 74 Million: These students’ “lived experience are going to look quite different in the coming months, perhaps from income shock or doubling up on housing, stress in the household, and other ways,” said Chelsea…

As a Federal Coronavirus Expert Frets, the Capital Moves to Reopen | New York Times

On May 27, 2020, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by the New York Times: “I would add to the resource issue the black population’s historically complex relationship with health care,” said Yesim Sayin Taylor, the executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, a research organization. Ward 8 has…

D.C. Schools Avoided the Draconian Budget Cuts Many U.S. Districts Are Facing: How the City Did It — and What Advocates Say Still Needs to Be Done | The 74 Million

On May 27, 2020, D.C. Policy Center Education Policy Initiative Director Chelsea Coffin was quoted by The 74 Million: These students’ “lived experience are going to look quite different in the coming months, perhaps from income shock or doubling up on housing, stress in the household, and other ways,” said Chelsea Coffin,…

John Wall on helping Washington residents with rent assistance: ‘I come from that type of environment’ | The Undefeated

On May 26, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Pandemic-induced unemployment has hit the District’s Hispanic, Latino, and younger workers more intensely, was cited by The Undefeated: Washington is one of a few areas, and NBA markets, that has yet to fully reopen businesses and public spaces since President Donald Trump declared…

Activists push for tax increases, more child care spending in D.C. budget | Washington Post

On May 19, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s executive director, Yesim Sayin Taylor, was quoted by the Washington Post: But Yesim Taylor of the D.C. Policy Center, a more centrist think tank, said the mayor was smart not to balance the budget with higher taxes. “It’s easy to say, ‘Well, cut, cut,…

Small businesses in high-rent cities face disaster. If they go under, urban life will change. | Washington Post

On May 16, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, How many small businesses are in D.C.?, was cited by the Washington Post: The pandemic is threatening the survival of independently operated stores, restaurants, bars and other enterprises in cities with vibrant, walkable neighborhoods and soaring commercial rents. In the District alone, there…

After Six Decades, Ben’s Chili Bowl Faces Its Greatest Challenge Yet: Coronavirus | WAMU

On April 28, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Goodbye to Chocolate City, was cited by WAMU: In 1970, the African-American population in the city stood at 71%. Five decades later, it’s less than half. Read more: After Six Decades, Ben’s Chili Bowl Faces Its Greatest Challenge Yet: Coronavirus | WAMU Related:…

The intersection of COVID-19, race and class | The DC Line

On April 23, 2020, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted in The DC Line: No one with whom I spoke was surprised by the data. The numbers amplify weaknesses and inequities in the nation’s health care system. They also underscore historic discrimination experienced by people of color, especially…

D.C. Coalition Wants Massive Tax Breaks To Help Businesses Rebound From Coronavirus | WAMU

On April 20, 2020, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by WAMU: But the coalition’s requests come amid a wider financial crisis for the city. The District is already expecting to have to trim the current year’s $9 billion budget by more than $600 million, and maybe as much…

Business tax relief proposal inspired by coronavirus raises questions from D.C. Council | Washington Business Journal

On April 20, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s executive director, Yesim Sayin Taylor, was quoted by the Washington Business Journal: Yesim Taylor, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, said this sort of tax relief has merit specifically because it is more broad-based, targeting an industry over specific businesses that would need…

Business tax relief proposal inspired by coronavirus raises questions from D.C. Council | Washington Business Journal

On April 20, 2020, D.C. Policy Center’s Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor, was quoted by the Washington Business Journal: Hoffman is confident the council could structure the program stringently, building in provisions that ensure that a commercial tenant has to remain open and employ a certain number of District residents to score…

Black D.C. Residents Have Been Diagnosed With COVID-19 At Twice The Rate Of Their White Peers | DCist

On April 8, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Pushing through complacency to fight health disparities in D.C.’s African American communities, was cited by DCist: In the District, black residents compose about 46 percent of the population, with white residents representing about 1 percentage point less than that, per recent U.S. Census…

‘It Would Be Ruinous’: How Coronavirus Could Put Trump Allies In Charge Of D.C. | WAMU

On April 8, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, COVID-19 pandemic and the District of Columbia: What to expect?, was cited by WAMU: But even furloughs and two consecutive years of $600 million cuts might not be enough, according to an analysis by the D.C. Policy Center think tank. In the wake of…

The Great Replacement: Washington, DC | American Renaissance

On April 6, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Goodbye to Chocolate City, was cited by American Renaissance: By the time he died, Marion Barry was a relic, because after 2000, the city began gentrifying. Whites returned. Crime dropped. Property values rose. Journalists, of course, mourned: “D.C., Long ‘Chocolate City,’ Becoming More…

The DC Rental Affordability Mismatch | Urban Turf

On April 3, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Appraising the District’s rentals, was cited by Urban Turf: DC Policy Center’s latest rental report builds on prior analysis of the city’s mismatched housing market. Read more: The DC Rental Affordability Mismatch | Urban Turf Related: Appraising the District’s rentals | D.C. Policy Center

Rent controlled apartments may slow displacement for people of color, a report finds | Greater Greater Washington

On April 2, 2020, chapter four of the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Appraising the District’s rentals, was excerpted by Greater Greater Washington: The DC Policy Center has published a new report, Appraising the District’s rentals, on rental housing in the District, and how rentals can help keep housing affordable provide more economically inclusive. We…

34,000 Units in 20 Years: DC’s Rental Market, by the Numbers | Urban Turf

On April 2, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Appraising the District’s rentals, was cited by Urban Turf: In addition to exploring how the concept of Inclusionary Conversions could work in DC, DC Policy Center’s latest report gives a comprehensive snapshot of the city’s rental market. Read more: 34,000 Units in 20 Years: DC’s Rental Market, by…

Should DC Use Inclusionary Conversions to Meet Affordable Housing Goals? | Urban Turf

On April 1, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Appraising the District’s rentals, was featured by Urban Turf: A new report by the DC Policy Center suggests there may only be one way to reach DC’s affordable housing production targets. Released Wednesday, the extensive report takes stock of the city’s rental housing, putting forth the…

The coronavirus — taking lives, destroying the economy | The DC Line

On March 26, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, COVID-19 pandemic and the District of Columbia: What to expect?, was cited by the DC Line: Thus far, the long-term budget impact has drawn minimal attention. The hue and cry has been for economic relief and public health protections. Echoing the view of…

A D.C. Chef’s Ambitious System to Put Restaurant Workers Back on the Job | Eater DC

On March 26, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Food access in D.C is deeply connected to poverty and transportation, was cited by Eater DC: While Maketto’s efforts will be focused on Ward 6 residents, Bruner-Yang says the model could be applied to help out areas with more dire needs, too. Data…

How Well is DC Doing at Social Distancing? | Urban Turf

On March 25, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, A timeline of the D.C. region’s COVID-19 pandemic, was cited by Urban Turf: DC proper’s A-grade reflects a 60% decrease in the average distance travelled by city residents. This data is as of March 21st, by which time the city was under a state of…

A bind for area governments: Virus shrinks their budgets just as public need soars | Washington Post

On March 20, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s Executive Director, Yesim Sayin Taylor, was quoted by the Washington Post: Officials and analysts said state and local governments should move quickly to provide small businesses with grants, loans and relaxed regulations to prevent layoffs. “The most important thing that government can do right…

D.C. Council members have big spending plans. Could a coronavirus slowdown ruin things? | Washington Business Journal

On March 12, 2020, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by the Washington Business Journal: With organizers canceling a slew of conventions, sporting events and concerts, and workers increasingly urged to stay home, there’s no telling yet what sort of impact the pandemic will have on the District’s coffers. And…

Affirmatively furthering fair housing: Proposed rule fails to address discrimination and segregation | Equal Rights Center

On March 10, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s articles, Mapping segregation in D.C. and The rise and demise of racially restrictive covenants in Bloomingdale, were cited by the Equal Rights Center: DC’s geographic racial divide and corresponding disparities did not happen by chance but are the result of a long history of discrimination against…

Give D.C. public charter schools a chance to serve at-risk students | Washington Post

On March 9, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, 2018-19 State of D.C. Schools was cited in the Washington Post: School quality is on the rise in the District. The recent D.C. Policy Center report on the State of D.C. Schools makes plain that our traditional public and public charter schools alike have outpaced other cities…

Anatomy of a rental marketplace | City Observatory

On March 4, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Appraising the District’s rentals, was cited by City Observatory: Too often, our debates about housing policy are shaped by inaccurate pictures of how the housing market really works. A new report from the D.C. Policy Center provides a remarkably clear and detailed picture of the…

‘Luxury’ Amenities Aren’t Why Housing Is So Expensive In The D.C. Area | WAMU

On March 3, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Single-family zoning and neighborhood characteristics in the District of Columbia, was cited by WAMU: In the D.C. region, vast swaths of residential areas are zoned exclusively for single-family homes, the most space-intensive and costly form of housing. For example, almost 90% of residential land in…

“Excessive” Regulation Causes 80% Home Price Premium in the DC Area, Per Trump Administration

On February 28, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, The economic costs of land use regulations, was cited by Urban Turf: Other reportage (and some Democratic presidential candidates) have also suggested that dismantling some regulations could create housing price relief by adding to supply. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has tied current efforts to amend the Comprehensive Plan to ambitious housing…

Foggy Bottom top D.C. neighborhood for walking accessibility, report finds | GW Hatchet

On February 27, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Where the Washington region achieves walkable density, was cited by the GW Hatchet: GW sits in an area of the city with some of the best roadways to walk to and from nearby amenities, a study from the D.C. Policy Center released last…

D.C. Public Schools Have Seen a Remarkable Turnaround in the Past Two Decades. Here Are 4 Ways to Keep the Progress Going | The 74 Million

On February 26, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, 2018-19 State of D.C. Schools, was cited in The 74 Million: The District’s public education system is now a national model, and a recent report outlines how far the city’s schools have come. The “State of D.C. Schools,” released by the D.C. Policy…

WMATA can’t measure fare evasion, but still says it’s a big problem | Greater Greater Washington

On February 24, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, What is the impact of fare evasion in D.C.?, was cited by Greater Greater Washington: Metro officials say fare evasion is a big problem, and have pushed back hard against a recent DC move to decriminalize fare evasion. But a new study from the DC…

DC Teachers Standing in the Gap | The Uptake

On February 24, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, 2018-2019 State of D.C. Schools, was cited by The Uptake: Specifically, in Washington, D.C this divide has presented itself in males of color. In 2015 Black and Hispanic boys made up 43% of the student enrollment, yet their test scores and graduation rates…

Viewpoint: D.C. can help developers overcome cost barriers to housing affordability | Washington Business Journal

On February 21, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center was quoted in an opinion piece published by the Washington Business Journal: Collectively, these initiatives have the potential to create a perfect storm of good individual intentions that have the opposite effect — a halt to housing development. In fact, the warning signs are…

Barry Farm’s historic landmark designation was pitted against affordable housing | Washington Post

On February 21, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, The history and evolution of Anacostia’s Barry Farm, was cited in an op-ed in the Washington Post: In 1941, D.C.’s nascent housing authority used eminent domain to force 23 remaining land owners from their homes for the construction of Barry Farm Dwellings; as is commonly…

The Week Observed | City Observatory

On February 21, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s articles, Where the Washington region achieves walkable density and Roughly 36 percent of D.C.’s rental housing units are rent-stabilized, were featured by City Observatory: 4. Mapping Walkable Density.  DW Rowlands has mapped walkable density in 17 of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas.  Her maps compare…

District Line Daily: Jumpin’, Jumpin’ | Washington City Paper

On February 21, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, What is the impact of fare evasion in D.C.?, was cited by Washington City Paper: The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has suggested that more people are piggy-backing or tailgating since the D.C. Council decriminalized fare evasion in July 2019. (It should be noted that…

As The D.C. Area Grows Pricier, Can Picking Up A Side Hustle (Or Three) Make A Difference? | WAMU

On February 19, 2020, D.C. Policy Center Policy Director Kathryn Zickuhr was quoted by WAMU: Not all app-based gigging opportunities are created equal, either. In a study that looked at the activity millions of Chase checking accounts from 2012 to 2018, the web-platform economy showed growth overall. Yet earnings for jobs in transportation (like…

These maps show where the Washington region achieves walkable density | Greater Greater Washington

On February 19, 2020, D.C. Policy Center Fellow D.W. Rowlands’ article, Where the Washington region achieves walkable density, was crossposted at Greater Greater Washington. Read more: These maps show where the Washington region achieves walkable density | Greater Greater Washington

D.C. Has More High-Income Residents Than Ever Before, Audit Suggests | WAMU

On February 4, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Taking Stock of the District’s Housing Stock, was cited by WAMU: But while the revenue bump is good news for D.C.’s coffers, the influx of high earners is making it harder for lower-earning families to find homes, according to the D.C. Policy Center….

Barry Farm Is Officially A Historic Landmark | WPGC

On February 3, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, The history and evolution of Anacostia’s Barry Farm, was cited by WPGC: Barry Farm Dwellings has existed since the 1940s, and the neighborhood includes the rich history as a home to African Americans after the Civil War, and a place that helped birth go-go. Read more: Barry Farm Is…

To support at-risk students, DC must invest | The DC Line

On January 31, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, 2018-19 State of D.C. Schools, was highlighted in an op-ed in The DC Line: Mayor Bowser’s administration has made historic investments in our education system designed to better serve students across the city. A recent report from the D.C. Policy Center suggests that those investments…

All D.C. students deserve high-performing schools | Washington Post

On January 31, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, 2018-19 State of D.C. Schools, was highlighted in an op-ed in the Washington Post: Our once-struggling public schools now are beacons of innovation and improvement for the nation. A new report by the D.C. Policy Center shows how far we have come. As…

D.C. law requiring identification of individuals behind LLCs takes effect | Washington Business Journal

On January 28, 2020, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Dr. Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by the Washington Business Journal: Local real estate attorneys previously dubbed such a change “an administrative nightmare,” and it drew opposition from the D.C. Building Industry Association. Developers frequently rely on LLCs in acquiring and managing properties. Some worried…

D.C. Gains Momentum in Boosting Opportunities for Students | Education Week

On January 21, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center Education Policy Initiative Director, Chelsea Coffin, was quoted by Education Week: “I think [the expansion of pre-K] got a lot of momentum for families to stay,” said Chelsea Coffin, the director of the education policy initiative at the D.C. Policy Center, a nonpartisan think…

D.C. Gains Momentum in Boosting Opportunities for Students | Education Week

On January 21, 2020, the Director of the D.C. Policy Center Education Policy Initiative, Chelsea Coffin, was quoted by Education Week: “I think [the expansion of pre-K] got a lot of momentum for families to stay,” said Chelsea Coffin, the director of the education policy initiative at the D.C. Policy Center, a…

Report: DC schools’ enrollment, test scores increase | Education Dive

On January 17, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, 2018-19 State of D.C. Schools, was cited by Education Dive: A report on Washington D.C. public schools by the D.C. Policy Center finds enrollment has increased steadily since 2010, after decades of decline. Between school years 2014-2015 and 2018-2019, enrollment for pre-K through 12th grade…

Not all speed cameras are created equal | The Philadelphia Citizen

On January 17, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Predominately black neighborhoods in D.C. bear the brunt of automated traffic enforcement, was cited by The Philadelphia Citizen: My analysis of moving violation citations and crash data suggests that the racial geography of D.C. does play into the enforcement of traffic violations,” wrote…

Morning Education | Politico

On January 17, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, 2018-19 State of D.C. Schools, was cited by Politico: More parents choose D.C.’s public schools over other alternatives, though achievement gaps persist for students of color, according to a new analysis from the D.C. Policy Center. Read more: Morning Education | Politico Related:…

How difficult will it be to make buildings in DC more energy efficient? It depends on the building. | Greater Greater Washington

On January 16, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Taking Stock of the District’s Housing Stock, was cited by Greater Greater Washington: Multifamily affordable housing units are more difficult to find, as only 31% of the available housing units in the District were “potentially” affordable to families of four, according to a 2018 report…

D.C. Schools Show Improvement — But Also Persistent Challenges, Report Says | WAMU

On January 16, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, 2018-19 State of D.C. Schools, was cited by WAMU: Enrollment is growing in D.C. public schools and students are scoring higher on standardized tests, but the city school system remains deeply segregated and achievement gaps between student groups persist, according to a report…

This GIF Shows How The D.C. Area’s Demographics Have Changed Since 1970 | DCist

On January 14, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, How the region’s racial and ethnic demographics have changed since 1970, was cited by DCist: A new analysis published by the D.C. Policy Center visualizes just how the broader area’s demographics have changed over the past half-century or so. “In 1970, almost everyone lived in…

We’re #1 | 730 DC

On January 14, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, How the region’s racial and ethnic demographics have changed since 1970, was cited by 730 DC: The gentrification #DontMuteDC fights is connected with the diversification of DC’s suburbs, a long process visualized and historicized by DC Policy Center. Read more: We’re #1 | 730 DC Related:…

These maps show how racial demographics have changed in the region since 1970 | Greater Greater Washington

On January 13, 2020, D.C. Policy Center Fellow D.W. Rowlands’ article, How the region’s racial and ethnic demographics have changed since 1970, was crossposted at Greater Greater Washington. Read more: These maps show how racial demographics have changed in the region since 1970 | Greater Greater Washington

Is Exercise Now A Luxury Item In D.C.? | WAMU

On January 6, 2020, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Physical activity and gym access by neighborhood in D.C., was cited by WAMU: Physical activity levels tend to vary widely throughout the city, with the lowest rates in Wards 7 and 8. In those two wards — which also have the most residents living below…

NoVa Kicked Maryland Butt in Job Growth Last Year | Bacon’s Rebellion

On January 6, 2020, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by Bacon’s Rebellion: Thus, Northern Virginia has experienced an influx of corporate headquarters with no connection whatsoever to defense, intelligence or IT — Hilton Hotels, Volkswagen USA, and Nestle USA. Meanwhile, Maryland lost Discovery and had to fight…

Northern Virginia’s economic growth risks leaving Maryland suburbs behind | Washington Post

On January 4, 2020, D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by the Washington Post: “When large headquarters move to the metropolitan area, they almost never consider Maryland and D.C.,” said Yesim Sayin Taylor, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center. “They invariably locate in Northern Virginia, and that’s…

Here’s the best way to build a Purple Line link between Bethesda and Tysons | Greater Greater Washington

On December 27, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, The best way to build a Purple Line link between Bethesda and Tysons, was cross-posted by Greater Greater Washington. Read more: Here’s the best way to build a Purple Line link between Bethesda and Tysons | Greater Greater Washington Related: The best way…

D.C. Ranks Among The Country’s Fittest Cities, Yet There’s A Dearth Of Gyms In Wards 7 And 8 | DCist

On December 18, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Physical activity and gym access by neighborhood in D.C., was cited by DCist: The divide between the District’s most active and least active neighborhoods is stark, as illustrated by data from the 500 Cities Project and analyzed by the D.C. Policy Center in 2017. The…

Liberal Guilt Is Officials’ Latest Tool To Build More Affordable Housing In D.C.’s Wealthiest Ward | DCist

On December 10, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Single-family zoning and neighborhood characteristics in the District of Columbia, was cited by DCist: Bowser has not proposed banning single-family zoning, which takes up three-quarters of all tax lots in the city, according to the D.C. Policy Center. “It would not be popular” in…

DC students face violence and transit delays on their commute to school | Greater Greater Washington

On November 25, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Access to schools that level the playing field for D.C.’s at-risk students, was cited by Greater Greater Washington: On July 9, 2019 At-Large Councilmember David Grosso introduced the Safe Passage to School Expansion Act, which would create an Office of Safe Passage and provide shuttle buses…

District Links: AG Karl Racine hires recent defense atty for Rayful Edmond III | The DC Line

On November 15, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, The impact of occupational licensing requirements in D.C., was cited by The DC Line’s District Links newsletter: REPORT – ‘The impact of occupational licensing requirements in D.C.’ D.C. Policy Center’s Yesim Sayin Taylor: “The District of Columbia has many factors in its favor making it…

These maps show how incomes have changed in the region since 1980 | Greater Greater Washington

On November 13, 2019, Fellow D.W. Rowlands’ article on the region’s changing incomes was cross-posted on Greater Greater Washington. Read more: These maps show how incomes have changed in the region since 1980 | Greater Greater Washington

Tuesday Morning Notes | Tysons Reporter

On November 12, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, D.C. is behind the rest of metropolitan area in business ownership rates for women, was cited in the Tysons Reporter links roundup, Tuesday Morning Notes: Women-Owned Businesses Booming in Falls Church — “Across the Washington metropolitan area, the highest rates of business ownership for…

D.C. battle looms on spending, taxes | Washington Blade

On November 8, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s 2019 State of Business Report was cited by the Washington Blade: While the D.C. economy is stable and remains a strong employment center in the region, the city is struggling to retain the small and moderate size businesses generated during recent boom years. In…

Should you move to Washington, D.C.? | Curbed DC

On November 8, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Growing labor demand in D.C. is driving up wages, was cited by Curbed DC: If you’re thinking about moving to D.C., think hard. Employment opportunities abound, but living costs are high. The weather can get brutally hot in the summer (don’t even get us started on…

The Barras Report: DC Policy Center

On November 7, 2019, D.C. Policy Center executive director Yesim Sayin Taylor was interviewed on The Barras Report: See more: The Barras Report: DC Policy Center

Small Business Owners Press D.C. Lawmakers For Financial Relief

On November 7, 2019, D.C. Policy Center executive director Yesim Sayin Taylor’s testimony to the D.C. Council was cited by WAMU: At one point during the hearing, economist Yesim Sayin Taylor contended that McDuffie and Allen’s bills would amount to little more than bandage solutions if larger changes aren’t made to the city’s business…

District Links: New report on deadly row house fire; NYT article on inaccurate breathalyzers mentions DC police; and more | The DC Line

On November 4, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, D.C. is hard to count. Here’s where officials could target efforts for the 2020 Census., was cited in The DC Line’s District Links newsletter: REPORT – ‘D.C. is hard to count. Here’s where officials could target efforts for the 2020 Census.’ D.C. Policy Center’s Mike…

Is Barry Farm a historic landmark? An upcoming ruling will shape the fate of redevelopment plans. | Washington Business Journal

On October 29, 2019, fellow Sarah Shoenfeld’s article, The history and evolution of Anacostia’s Barry Farm was linked by the Washington Business Journal: For the activists pressing for the historic designation, a vote in their favor would represent a major victory in forcing the developers to better honor the property’s history — in 1867,…

D.C. officials order changes to Barry Farm redevelopment plans to better honor the property’s history | Washington Business Journal

On October 31, 2019, fellow Sarah Shoenfeld’s article, The history and evolution of Anacostia’s Barry Farm was linked by the Washington Business Journal: However, a majority of the nine-member board did signal that they’d be willing to approve that request, if the developers can’t rearrange their plans to better honor the property’s…

GAME-CHANGER: The Nationals won it all. D.C. achieved sports town status. What does it mean for business? | Washington Business Journal

On October 31, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center executive director Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by Washington Business Journal: D.C. collects anywhere from $40 million to $65 million per year for its “ballpark fund” to afford those payments, budget documents show. Taxes on Nats tickets and concessions generate anywhere from $15 million…

The Comp Plan guides DC’s growth. Here’s what proposed updates say about housing. | Greater Greater Washington

On October 31, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Taking Stock of the District’s Housing Stock, was cited by Greater Greater Washington: Other worthwhile additions include: A strong acknowledgement that new construction has favored one-bedroom units over multifamily units (though it’s necessary to build more smaller units as well to free up family-sized…

Hill Buzz 488 | The Hill is Home

On October 29, 2019, Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor’s article, Land Value Tax: Can it work in the District? was cited in a link roundup on The Hill is Home: An interesting blog post from the DC Policy Center on Land Value Tax and what difference it could make. Read more: Hill Buzz | The Hill…

It isn’t baseball that unites Washington. It’s the chant: ‘Lock him up!’ | Washington Post

On October 28, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Made in D.C.: Which areas have the highest share of D.C.-born residents, was cited by the Washington Post: To be fair, recent census data shows that the majority of current D.C. residents are, indeed, transplants. Only about 28 percent of adults living in D.C….

Changes to D.C.’s comp plan could help Bowser approach her big housing goals. Here’s how. | Washington Business Journal

On October 22, 2019, D.C. Policy Center executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by the Washington Business Journal: “Lots of people are saying ‘where’s the money to build it?’ But that’s far less important … because the resources are in the land,” said Yesim Taylor, executive director of business-backed think tank…

Tuesday’s Must Reads | UrbanTurf

On October 22, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Land Value Tax: Can it Work in the District?, was featured by Urban Turf’s links roundup: A DC land value tax would accelerate density where it exists, not where it doesn’t. — (Y.S. Taylor/DCPC) Read more: Tuesday’s Must Reads | UrbanTurf Related: Land Value Tax:…

Here’s where D.C. — and a N. Va. city — rank among U.S. cities for tax rates, ease of doing business | Washington Business Journal

On October 15, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, State of Business 2019: Building a Competitive City, was cited by the Washington Business Journal: In D.C., the tax burden on businesses has long been a subject of consternation, playing a role in driving businesses to flee to the Northern Virginia suburbs in…

Can Land Trusts Keep D.C. Living Accessible? | Kojo Nnamdi Show

On October 10, 2019, Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor discussed community land trusts as a guest on the Kojo Nnamdi Show: The cost of living in Washington, D.C. is on the rise and longtime residents are getting priced out of their homes and neighborhoods. The Douglass Community Land Trust recently made its first property…

District Links | The DC Line

On October 4, 2019 the D.C. Policy Center-produced report, 2019 State of Business: Building a Competitive City, was cited by The DC Line’s District Links roundup: NEW – The DC Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 State of Business Report is out, produced by the D.C. Policy Center. The full 56-page report focuses on how the District…

D.C. remains a strong jobs center, but business leaders warn that companies are still fleeing at an alarming rate | Washington Business Journal

On October 4, 2019, the 2019 State of Business Report written by the D.C. Policy Center was featured by the Washington Business Journal: According to a report prepared for the event by the business-backed D.C. Policy Center, the District added more than 5,000 new companies between 2010 and 2018, a 15% increase. But…

Women Who Mean Business: Yesim Sayin Taylor (Video) | Washington Business Journal

On October 3, 2019, Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor was featured as a member of the 2019 class of Women Who Mean Business by Washington Business Journal: Back in her days working for the D.C. government, Yesim Sayin Taylor remembers thinking that the business community all too often came forward with the same repetitive…

News from around the 50 states | USA Today

On October 2, 2019, the the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Access to schools that level the playing field for D.C.’s at-risk students,  was cited by USA Today: A new report on school access by the D.C. Policy Center shows hundreds of students can’t physically get to the school that would best suit…

Making Black history matter in public space | Brookings

On October 2, 2019, two D.C. Policy Center articles were cited by the Brookings Institution: The demolition of a public housing complex in the nation’s capital has sparked a fight over something more than displacement and gentrification: It has come to represent a larger struggle over the preservation of Black history, culture,…

Where The D.C. Schools That Help At-Risk Kids Are — And Aren’t | Kojo Nnamdi Show

On October 2, 2019, Education Policy Initiative Director Chelsea Coffin discussed the D.C. Policy Center report Access to schools that level the playing field for D.C.’s at-risk students, as a guest on the Kojo Nnamdi Show: About half of students in D.C. charter and traditional public schools are labeled “at-risk,” meaning they…

Breakfast links: Convert vacant offices into housing? A new report throws a damper on the idea | Greater Greater Washington

On October 1, 2019, coverage of the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Access to schools that level the playing field for D.C.’s at-risk students, was featured in Greater Greater Washington’s Breakfast Links roundup: Many at-risk DC students live far from help: Many DC neighborhoods with the highest concentration of at-risk students are without easy…

District Line Daily: “Kids Know It’s Not Right.” | Washington City Paper

On September 30, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Access to schools that level the playing field for D.C.’s at-risk students, was cited by Washington City Paper: New study explores how hard it is to travel to schools that help close the achievement gap for at-risk students. [D.C. Policy Center] Read more:…

At-risk students in DC don’t have access to the schools they need, according to new study | WUSA 9

On September 30, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Access to schools that level the playing field for D.C.’s at-risk students, was covered by WUSA 9: Now, a new report by the D.C. Policy Center on school access shows hundreds of students can’t even get to the school that would best suit…

Many Of D.C.’s At-Risk Students Are Too Far Away From The Schools Most Likely To Help Them | DCist

On September 30, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Access to schools that level the playing field for D.C.’s at-risk students, was covered by DCist: Several public elementary and middle schools in D.C. have a strong track record of helping students classified as at-risk improve their learning outcomes—but many neighborhoods with the…

With costs ever rising, D.C. lawmakers introduce rent and tax bills to help small businesses stay put | Washington Business Journal

On September 18, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor was quoted by the Washington Business Journal: Yesim Taylor, the executive director of the business-backed D.C. Policy Center, is similarly bullish on the legislation’s potential to help companies “facing ever-thinning margins and steep competition from electronic commerce.” But she…

The Past, Present, And (Potential) Future Of D.C. Statehood, Explained | DCist

On September 18, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Twenty years after the Revitalization Act, the District of Columbia is a different city, was cited by DCist: But there is one other element of the court system that does have a connection to statehood: D.C. is the only jurisdiction where a U.S….

Letter to the Editor: Dress codes are worth it in the long run | Tulsa World

On September 18, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, Landscape of Diversity in D.C. Public Schools, was cited by Tulsa World: Columnist Ginnie Graham’s piece used a report issued by the National Women’s Law Center that analyzed dress codes and violations among 21 Washington, D.C. public schools and charter schools. A D.C. Policy Center report in…

1,100 Units, Retail and a Two Acre Park: The Latest Plans for Barry Farm | Urban Turf

On September 6, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, The history and evolution of Anacostia’s Barry Farm, was cited by Urban Turf: The Historic Preservation Review Board is expected to rule later this month on whether to grant landmark status to the remaining units at Barry Farm. Earlier this week, development partner…

District Links | The DC Line

On September 6, 2019 the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Building the ecosystem for Black women entrepreneurs in D.C., was cited by The DC Line’s District Links roundup: “Just 18 percent of all business establishments in D.C. are reported to be owned solely by women, and only 27 percent are owned by people…

Cities Are Changing As Young People Stay For Longer | Newsy

On September 5, 2019, D.C. Policy Center Education Policy Initiative Director Chelsea Coffin was interviewed by Newsy: “I see it the most in housing developments that are ongoing in the pipeline. We really are seeing a lot more one- and two-bedroom units being built and not as much family housing.” Coffin said….

With more choice, DC families are unlinking their housing and school decisions | Greater Greater Washington

On September 4, 2019 the D.C. Policy Center’s article, D.C.’s disconnect between citywide enrollment growth and neighborhood change, was covered by Greater Greater Washington: A new report from the DC Policy Center shows that school-aged populations and school enrollment in the District’s neighborhoods are “decoupling.” While demand for high-quality schools has historically driven…

DC residents launch a city-wide tenant union in hopes to foster solidarity across the District | Streetsense

On August 29, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Made in D.C.: Which areas have the highest share of D.C.-born residents, was cited by Streetsense: In the 1950s, the Southwest part of D.C. underwent huge gentrification that forced 23,000 people to be relocated into public housing east of the Anacostia River, said…

‘Going to bed hungry’: the harrowing reality of poor children living in DC | the Guardian

On August 29, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Income inequality and economic mobility in D.C., was cited by the Guardian: Muthiah’s organization serves roughly 400,000 individuals in the DC region, about a third of whom are children, and she said her group has witnessed the effects of growing inequity in the…

Citywide enrollment growth is strong but disconnected from neighborhood change | The DC Line

On August 28, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s Chelsea Coffin authored a commentary published by The DC Line: The 2019-20 school year will mark the 12th enrollment increase in a row for DC’s traditional public and public charter schools. This year, the city’s schools are expected to add 2,800 students to classes…

D.C. Attorney General Settles With Company That Wouldn’t Install Windows East Of The River | DCist

On August 21, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Discriminatory housing practices in the District: A brief history, was cited by DCist: She asked a friend to call the company back with a Capitol Hill zip code instead. When the customer service representative approved the request for service, Morgan decided to alert…

New D.C. Development Guidelines Require More Consideration of Walkability | Planetizen

On August 17, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Transportation is more than traffic: Measuring the impact of development on walkability, was cited by Planetizen: “In June, the D.C. Department of Transportation published new guidelines for reviewing the transportation impacts of major real estate developments,” according to an article by D. Taylor Reich. “These new guidelines…

Today’s Headlines | Streetsblog CAL

On August 15, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Transportation is more than traffic: Measuring the impact of development on walkability, was cited by Streetsblog CAL’s links roundup: Transportation is more than traffic: Measuring walkability (D.C. Policy Center) Read more: Today’s Headlines | Streetsblog CAL Related: Transportation is more than traffic: Measuring…

These new development rules are made for walking | Greater Greater Washington

On August 15, 2019, a version of the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Transportation is more than traffic: Measuring the impact of development on walkability, was crossposted at Greater Greater Washington. Read more: These new development rules are made for walking | Greater Greater Washington Related: Transportation is more than traffic: Measuring the impact…

Suburban sprawl has increased in the D.C. area since 1970: study | Curbed DC

On August 13, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, How the D.C. area’s population density has changed since 1970, was cited by Curbed DC: The population density of the D.C. region has gone up but also spread farther out during the past half-century, according to a recent analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by…

Grassroots groups and growers east of the Anacostia defy the ‘food desert’ label | Greater Greater Washington

On August 13 2019, a map from the D.C. Policy Center’s article, The history of Deanwood’s local foodscape, was cited by Greater Greater Washington: Map reprinted from DC Policy Center: “Grocery stores operating in Deanwood between 1925 and 1960. This map was created based on stores that were reported in the Overbeck oral history interviews…

Monday’s Must Reads | UrbanTurf

On August 12, 2019, Executive Director Yesim Sayin Taylor’s visualization of housing types and density in Ward 3 vs Ward 6 was cited in a link roundup on UrbanTurf. Read more: Monday’s Must Reads | UrbanTurf Related: D.C. single family neighborhood density: Ward 3 versus Ward 6 | D.C. Policy Center

A tool meant to help minorities buy homes is instead speeding up gentrification in D.C. | Washington Post

On August 9, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, A decade of demographic change in D.C.: Which neighborhoods have changed the most?, was cited in the Washington Post: Yet Washington is also the most rapidly gentrifying metropolitan area in the United States. Since 2000, 22 percent of D.C. census tracts have seen a large…

See the difference density makes in these two parts of the District | Greater Greater Washington

On August 8, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, D.C. single family neighborhood density: Ward 3 versus Ward 6, was crossposted by Greater Greater Washington. Read more: See the difference density makes in these two parts of the District | Greater Greater Washington Related: D.C. single family neighborhood density: Ward 3 versus Ward 6…

Systemic Inequality: Displacement, Exclusion, and Segregation | Center for American Progress

On August 8 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Goodbye to Chocolate City, was cited by a Center for American Progress report, Systemic Inequality: Displacement, Exclusion, and Segregation: Nowhere are the effects of gentrification more noticeable than the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. Between 1970 and 2015, Black residents declined from 71 percent of…

How DC can build more homes in exclusive neighborhoods around Rock Creek Park | Greater Greater Washington

On August 1, 2019, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Single-family zoning and neighborhood characteristics in the District of Columbia, was cited in Greater Greater Washington: Conveniently, where the framework element says you should build, and where it says you should conserve character, roughly tracks with where in the city you are legally…

These beautiful maps show how the region’s population density changed since 1970 | Greater Greater Washington

On July 26, 2019, Fellow D.W. Rowlands’ article on the region’s changing population density was cross-posted on Greater Greater Washington. Read more: These beautiful maps show how the region’s population density changed since 1970 | Greater Greater Washington

D.C.’s Master Facilities Plan Will Shape the City’s Balance Between Neighborhood Schools and Charters – Washington City Paper

On October 10, 2018, Rachel M. Cohen at Washington City Paper wrote about Chelsea Coffin’s report “How D.C.’s Young Families May Shape Public School Enrollment.” The D.C. Auditor projects school enrollment to grow by 12,000 to 17,000 students in the next 10 years, with the bulk of that growth occurring in the…

New Data Suggests D.C.’s Restaurant Bubble is Bursting – Washington City Paper

On August 14, 2017, Washington City Paper covered Senior Fellow Kate Rabinowitz’s piece on nightlife churn: A new report from the D.C. Policy Center draws several conclusions based on restaurant openings and closings over the past several years. The biggest? The lion’s share of the city’s nightlife boom may be in the…

Can A $2 Flat Fare Save Metro?

On April 4, WAMU’s Martin Di Caro interviewed D.C. Policy Center Fellow D.W. Rowlands on whether a $2 flat fare can save Metro: Metro is most often compared to the New York subway system, which charges a flat fare of $2.75, but the nation’s busiest system handles six million daily trips –…